Berlin: Teen suspect pepper-sprays undercover police, 2,000 fireworks seized
A teenager allegedly selling fireworks in central Berlin pepper-sprayed plainclothes officers before passersby helped detain him. Police later found more than 2,000 pyrotechnic items at his home.
Symbolic image · Photo: Lear 21 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Police and passersby in Berlin's Mitte district detained a teenager suspected of illegally selling fireworks, police said Tuesday. Plainclothes officers spotted him around noon on Monday at the junction of Leipziger Strasse and Axel-Springer-Strasse. When they identified themselves, he allegedly sprayed them with pepper spray and ran, also hitting passersby who tried to stop him. He was caught shortly afterward.
A search of his home turned up more than 2,000 pyrotechnic items, some of which may only be bought and used by trained pyrotechnicians, police said. Officers also seized a blank-firing pistol, a knife, pepper spray, cash in the four-figure range and several forged identity documents.
Three passersby and one officer suffered eye and respiratory irritation and were treated as outpatients. The suspect, who is presumed innocent, was released after police processing, and the investigation is continuing.