New Year’s Eve despite Corona in Zurich: Bloody dispute at Utoquai

Many people celebrated the turn of the year in Zurich, although for the second time in a row no New Year’s Eve fireworks were shown around the lake basin due to the corona virus. There was a New Year’s Eve magic light with projections on the Grossmünster, various parties in clubs and private events. Many people were out in the open air launching missiles. There were always dangerous situations.

At midnight, two groups of people clashed at Utoquai. A youth was injured in the face with an unknown object, as the Zurich city police wrote in a communiqué on Saturday. The teenager was rushed to hospital with moderate injuries. In this context, the police took a suspect to a police station for further investigation.

Young woman suffers bang trauma

Also at Utoquai, at 2:30 a.m., police investigators noticed two men sneaking around groups of people. Soon after, the suspects stole a woman’s wallet from her purse. The victim noticed the theft and was able to snatch the goods back to her. During the subsequent escape, the alleged thieves, a 20-year-old Libyan and a 28-year-old Algerian, were arrested and taken to the relevant specialist group.

At 4:30 a.m. the report was received that a woman had been hit by fireworks on Pelikanstrasse. The patrols encountered a 21-year-old woman who had suffered a possible bang trauma. In addition, her hair was easily burned. She was looked after by the paramedics. The exact course of the incident is still being clarified.

So far, no notable violations known

And what about compliance with the applicable anti-corona measures, does the population also participate on New Year’s Eve? Pascal Siegenthaler, spokesman for the Zurich City Police, does not currently record any noteworthy violations upon request. The police were on the way for random checks, for example in front of clubs.

Police officers save the life of a 49-year-old

Other city police forces became lifeguards in District 12 on December 31, according to a message. At 8:15 p.m., a woman reported to the emergency call center and stated that she could no longer reach her son. He is dependent on essential medication. Patrols were then sent to the son’s place of residence, but no one answered. Since it was not possible to enter the apartment through the locked door in a short time, the police decided to break a window pane.

Inside, the emergency services met a man lying on the ground, who was no longer responsive. Thanks to resuscitation measures by the police, the 49-year-old was stabilized a short time later. He was then taken to the hospital by the paramedics.

Two people injured with stabbing weapons

Because of the expected large number of people in the city center, the Zurich canton police were on duty at the main train station with increased numbers. Two people were injured with stabbing weapons during the night. At 11:30 p.m., a 27-year-old man was injured in the face by a stranger. At around 3 a.m., a stranger stabbed a 19-year-old man in the leg and seriously injured him. A policewoman was able to stop the bleeding with a ligating system. The injured was taken to a hospital in an ambulance. The canton police have started investigations in both cases.

At around 1.30 a.m., members of the canton police observed a man immorally touching a woman in the main train station. The 18-year-old Afghan was arrested and taken to the police station.

Several people were arrested for violating the Aliens and Integration Act. Around 25 people were turned away because they were drunk or harassed other people.

The security director of the canton of Zurich, Mario Fehr, personally got a picture of the work of the front officials on New Year’s Eve. Together with Bruno Keller, the commander of the canton police, and Cantonal Councilor Markus Schaaf, the president of the staff association of the canton police, he thanked the people for their services.

Two major fires and dozen of minor fires

The canton police also reported two major fires. At 6 p.m. the message was received that a kindergarten pavilion in Langnau am Albis was on fire. The fire brigade put out the flames. Property damage of hundreds of thousands of francs occurred to the building.

At 11:30 p.m. the attic of a single-family house burned in Erlenbach. The residents could leave the building. Three people received medical treatment with suspected smoke inhalation. Despite the large-scale deployment of the Erlenbach fire brigade and the professional and militia fire brigade from Protection and Rescue Zurich, property damage of hundreds of thousands of francs occurred to the building. In both cases, the cause of the fire is still unclear and is being investigated by the fire investigation service of the canton police.

Over the course of the night, around two dozen reports of minor fires were received in the canton of Zurich. These could usually be extinguished quickly by the local fire brigade or by private individuals at an early stage. The Zurich police had to move out around 50 times because fireworks were directed against facades or means of transport or let off in mailboxes.

Firecrackers shot at person

Shortly after midnight, a person in Fehraltorf was slightly injured because they were shot at with a firework. A 71-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman were arrested in connection with this. The canton police are investigating.

Almost as many rescue missions as before Corona

There was hardly a minute of quiet for the emergency services of the protection and rescue in Zurich. They performed a total of 102 missions on New Year’s Eve between 4 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Despite the anti-corona measures, the number of rescue services deployed during the festive season rose by almost 20 percent compared to the previous year. They were almost at the level of 2020 (812 missions). If the protective measures had been observed, the missions would have been more complex and longer this year, according to Protection and Rescue on January 1st.