"We won't let our living room be destroyed" - New Year's Eve riots in the Saxon province

There were also riots far away from the big cities on New Year's Eve, for example the events in a small Saxon town are currently making headlines nationwide. According to police reports, around 200 people rioted on the local market square in Borna (near Leipzig) on ​​the night of January 1st.

First, the group had apparently tried to ignite the Christmas tree set up on the square with firecrackers. Police forces called in were then also attacked with pyrotechnics, and an emergency vehicle was damaged, writes n-tv.

As was further reported, the town hall, a kiosk and several traffic signs were also thrown at. In addition, ashtrays and mailboxes in the city center were blown up using pyrotechnics. Borna's Mayor Oliver Urban (SPD) shared a photo of the destroyed kiosk on Facebook and suggested a ban on firecrackers in the city. He also announced a new security concept for Borna (19,000 inhabitants). "We will not let our living room be destroyed," he wrote.

When asked by n-tv, a spokesman for the Leipzig police department said there were indications that radical right-wing slogans such as "Sieg Heil" were also shouted that evening.

According to media reports, local residents want to see rioters camouflaged with ski masks. Meanwhile, the police are investigating breaches of the peace, property damage and personal injury, reports “t-online” among other things. Two suspects were arrested on New Year's Eve, they were young men aged 19.

About a week after the riots, the police in Saxony also activated an information portal in order to get more specific information to clarify the facts. Videos can also be uploaded there.

Under the hashtag

In the past few days, events in major cities such as Berlin, Hamburg and Frankfurt am Main have made headlines. With some delay, reports of damage from smaller cities such as Hagen, Wuppertal, Dessau and Borna are now also spreading.