Ten students were injured after a firework exploded at a secondary school in Oberhausen, Germany, on Tuesday morning, with five of them taken to hospital for medical examinations.
The incident occurred at around 9:40 a.m. on November 3 in the Osterfeld district, prompting an emergency response and a police investigation.
According to preliminary findings, a group of students allegedly set off a firework in the gymnasium changing room, where 12 fifth-grade pupils were present at the time.
The explosion injured 10 children. Five students, aged 10 and 11, were transported to nearby hospitals after reporting headaches and discomfort in their ears.
Parents and legal guardians were informed, and some arrived at the school shortly after the incident.
Police said all students suspected of being involved had been identified at the scene. However, authorities have not disclosed the ages of those suspected of setting off the firework or the name of the school.
The case has been referred to the Criminal Investigation Department 12, which is continuing its investigation to establish the full circumstances of the incident.
The explosion in Oberhausen occurred just four days after a similar incident at a school in the German city of Neuwied.
In that case, a firework exploded in the boys’ bathroom during a break between classes. According to local media reports, eight students suffered minor hearing injuries caused by the loud blast.
Police opened an investigation to determine how the explosion occurred and who was responsible. It was not immediately clear whether any of the injured students required hospital treatment.
The two incidents, occurring within days of each other, have renewed concerns about the risks posed by fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices in school environments, particularly to children’s safety.
