Carnival activities in Beuel Police report moderate number of incidences on Weiberfastnacht

Bonn · The police had relatively few calls in Bonn-Beuel on Weiberfastnacht (Women’s Carnival) up until afternoon. Excessive alcohol consumption of many young carnival-goers is still a problem, the officers said.

 Overconsumption of alcohol at carnival time is still a big problem for police.

Overconsumption of alcohol at carnival time is still a big problem for police.

Foto: dpa/Oliver Berg

The storming of the town hall in Beuel is in full swing, as dozens of young people gather on the large grassy area on the banks of the Rhine. Soon there are several hundred of them, most of them carrying beer, wine and especially schnapps. More than 100 police officers and numerous members of the municipal public order office are also there.

Gerd Peter, head of the Ramersdorf police station, and his colleague Silke Gremmler take a close look at the situation. "This doesn't have much to do with carnival," says Peter, who has been working on the banks of the Rhine on Weiberfastnacht for many years. "I call that uncontrolled consumption of alcohol." Gremmler addresses a group of female students. One of them, clearly under 18 and already quite drunk, is holding a bottle of schnapps in her hand. "My parents don't mind if I drink alcohol," she says in a heavy voice. The police officer says nothing, but her expression speaks volumes. "Pour it out", she orders. "This is my bottle", a young man claims at that moment. Gremmler is unimpressed. "Pour it out," she repeats sternly, and the girl obeys the order.

More youth at the Beuel riverside than last year

This year, Peter estimates that there are considerably more young people gathered on the grassy riverside area than last year. It doesn't take long for the first ambulances to arrive. A 19-year-old girl is apparently drunk and unconscious. The paramedics quickly put her in the ambulance. Over the radio Peter and Gremmler hear about the first arrests. One man started a brawl and then, when the police arrived, insulted the officers. Now he is in police custody. "When alcohol flows, the potential for violence increases", Peter knows.

Like all the years before, the "Bonn Event Sprinter" (a special van) stops at the riverside, and there is a stand from an outpatient addiction support program and the City of Bonn, where young people can swap alcohol and cigarettes for mineral water, sweets and bananas. The amount of bottles that are handed in is still manageable. On the other hand, it is hardly possible to walk on the grass and paths because so many bottles, especially broken ones, are already lying there. "You have to be careful if you don't have thick soles," warns Peter.

Up until late afternoon, the police report a moderate number of incidences: Among other things, a small incident was reported when youths blocked the doors of a train at the Ramersdorf stop, provoking an argument with the driver. When they refused to get off the train, the police were called. According to police spokesman Simon Rott, two children - four and eight years old - briefly went missing. They were quickly returned to their families. In addition, the police wrote some complaints for “Wildpinkeln” (which means literally “peeing in the wild”), with a corresponding fine of 40 euros.

Police in Hennef and Siegburg satisfied with how things went

Also in the Rhein-Sieg district, carnival started out mostly peacefully, as the local police reported in the evening. There had been fewer police dispatches at that point than in the previous year. According to the police, this is also due to "a low threshold of tolerance for aggressive persons and groups of persons". Lothar Kloß, head of police operations, was very satisfied with the way things were going at carnival so far: "I hope that the celebrations will continue peacefully in the restaurants and in private.”

Especially on the Marktplatz in Siegburg and on Adenauerplatz in Hennef, many carnival-goers celebrated. Police report having been called out on carnival-related incidents 52 times before 6pm. The officers ordered 21 people to leave the area, either they had drunkenly tried to start an argument or harassed carnival revelers. Some will also be prohibited from attending certain carnival events in the coming days. 12 drunk people were taken into custody so they could sober up, they were either causing trouble or completely helpless. In addition, 10 charges of assault and battery were filed. One minor had to be taken to hospital because he was injured in a brawl.

Several men in Hennef and Siegburg were taken into custody

A drunken 44-year-old man in Hennef was taken into custody after smashing a glass bottle in front of a supermarket and punching a security guard in the face. A 19-year-old man from Troisdorf spat and insulted employees of the public order office in Siegburg at about 12:30 pm. The police were called in and filed a complaint and he was held in custody to sober up. A 22-year-old threatened police with a replica pistol that looked deceptively genuine. He was wrestled to the ground and the fake pistol seized.

During targeted traffic controls, about 120 drivers had to undergo a check. One of them was unable to produce a driver’s license. A preliminary investigation was initiated against him. Other than that, there were minor offenses but no drivers had been caught under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the report.

(Orig. text: Lisa Inhoffen, Anna Maria Beekes; Translation: ck)

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