Halloween riot in German city saw fireworks thrown at mayor

Raucous violence broke out on Halloween night in the western German city of Marl, with stones and fireworks hurled at emergency services and even the town's mayor, reported dpa.

Troublemakers threw firecrackers and stones on Thursday night in several places across the city, which is located in the densely populated industrial Ruhr region. Hooligans also piled flammable material in shopping trolleys, a local police spokeswoman said.

Hooded and masked people rioted and attacked police officers and the fire brigade, according to the police spokeswoman. She said a total of 13 people were taken into custody.

The town's mayor, Werner Arndt, told the local Marler Zeitung newspaper that fireworks were also thrown at him while he was standing alongside police officers.

Arndt said he was appalled by the extent of the violence and spoke of an "attack against this state."

The police spokeswoman said that criminal investigations have been launched on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm, breach of the peace and damage to property, among other suspected crimes.