In the Bas-Rhin, where fireworks are a New Year's Eve tradition, New Year's Eve was mourned by a tragic accident.
A man had his head blown off by fireworks, despite the curfew and the ban on the use and sale of firecrackers in Alsace during the month of December.
Despite an important police device, a curfew in force and the ban on the sale and purchase of any type of firecracker in Alsace, New Year's Eve was still in mourning in Bas-Rhin. .
In the village of Boofzheim, on the banks of the Rhine, south of Strasbourg, a man was killed and another wounded by fireworks.
The first had his head blown off by the device, while the other was seriously injured in the face.
Three others injured by firecrackers
The two victims, aged 24 and 25, attempted to ignite the explosive device in the street.
The latter being slow to explode, they retraced their steps.
As they got closer, the firework mortar went off, causing significant injuries.
The young man with a facial injury was hospitalized.
A disappointed official confided his dismay to the microphone of Europe 1. "You can do all the bans you want, there are accidents", he lamented.
In total, three other people were injured by firecrackers in the Bas-Rhin, including one having had a finger torn off.
A figure lower than in previous years.
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However at midnight, many fireworks and other firecrackers were heard in the streets of Strasbourg, despite a ban on buying, transporting and using, throughout the month of December, the slightest firecracker.
A sign of a well-established tradition, families with children were on the balcony to launch fireworks.
Sixty burnt cars
As for urban violence, the night was quieter than the previous year in Strasbourg and in its sensitive neighborhoods.
The authorities will not communicate official figures, but a trade unionist mentions about sixty burnt cars.
Last year, 113 people were arrested, police and firefighters were attacked.