In the small one-way street of Differdange, the houses are lined up one after the other. Modern buildings with colorful facades, historic terraced houses, many people in a small space. We dare not imagine the consequences that a fire could have had here.
On December 30, the prosecution seized, according to its own information, 13.8 tons of fireworks in the residential area. The merchandise is intended for sale. Indeed, in the middle of the homes, a company specializing in pyrotechnics not only has its headquarters, but also its point of sale and its warehouse. Until the authorities put an end to it a day before the New Year.
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The check takes place after the authorities received information that storage conditions were blatantly not being respected. During the search of the premises, violations of the law were then actually noted, as indicated by the public prosecutor’s office on December 31 in a press release. For them, the law provides for prison sentences of up to six months and fines of up to 125,000 euros.
According to information from Luxembourg word, the fireworks were stored in an apartment building and in garages. The company would not have had the operating authorization required for classified installations (commodo/incommodo), which sets, among other things, obligations in terms of protection of the neighborhood, the environment and the public. According to a source, the expiry date of certain goods has also been significantly exceeded.
A mass of explosives estimated at two tonnes
The seized fireworks contained a considerable amount of explosive mass – estimated at around two tonnes according to the prosecution. It is not without reason that the judicial police and the ITM received help from the army mine clearance service on December 30 in Differdange. Explosives experts transported the seized goods to a safe location.
A few days before the intervention of the police in December 2023, the company advertised on its website offering offers. © PHOTO: Internet Archive
Since its creation in 2016, the company has been headquartered in the residential area of Differdange. It offered fireworks for individuals and for qualified pyrotechnicians. Items could be ordered through an online catalog. The goods were then delivered or could be collected on site.
On the website, we now find the words “closed due to inventory”. In the online catalog, goods are still indicated as available on Friday afternoon. However, it is no longer possible to add them to the basket.
The company has also organized fireworks, among others for municipalities such as Dudelange or Schifflange, and participated in the major Moselle Lumière et Flammes event in 2022. The main owner, a 49-year-old man, holds a pyrotechnician certificate (“Artificer”), according to his professional social media profile.
Fireworks stored until further notice
Typically, confiscated items are kept until a final judgment is rendered. If the fireworks do not present an immediate danger, they could therefore remain intact at least until the end of the legal proceedings.
It is possible that the fireworks will in the future be entrusted to the Office for the Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets (BGA). This office is responsible for managing seized goods. For example, it is at the BGA that there are 842 watches with a total value of 18 million euros which were seized as part of criminal proceedings against Flavio Becca for embezzlement of company funds and money laundering. ‘money.
Asked about this, the prosecution indicated that it did not know what would happen to the fireworks. The criminal prosecution authorities still wish to wait for the corresponding investigation reports. The investigation continues.
For the company, the seizure of its stock of goods certainly represents a great financial loss. It is unclear whether she can or wants to continue her activities. The owners did not wish to comment on the alleged facts. However, through his lawyer, the main owner indicated that, according to his calculations, the weight of the seized goods was much lower, namely only around one tonne. The presumption of innocence applies until a final conviction is handed down.
This article was originally published on the website of Luxembourg word.
Adaptation: Thomas Berthol
2024-01-14 08:34:18
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