BERLIN, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Germany welcomed the New Year amid tragedy and controversy as five lives were lost in fireworks-related accidents and hundreds were arrested nationwide, German media reported on Wednesday.
The fatalities were attributed to explosions or mishandling of fireworks, with some incidents involving self-made, illegally obtained, or improperly used firecrackers, according to the German public broadcast ARD program Tagesschau.
