Ten cars were set ablaze overnight outside a Porsche dealership in Hamburg. Police say they’re investigating whether the incident was related to the upcoming Group of 20 summit.
Police said Thursday that unidentified perpetrators set the cars alight in the city’s Eidelstedt district shortly before 4 a.m. The blaze was extinguished before 6 a.m.
The situation in Hamburg has been largely calm ahead of the G-20 summit that starts on Friday but authorities are concerned about possible trouble at a large protest by anti-globalization activists later Thursday.
Hamburg police are gearing up for a major protest by anti-globalization activists as Germany’s second-biggest city prepares to welcome leaders of the Group of 20 economic powers.
Organisers of Thursday’s demonstration have titled the event “G-20: Welcome to Hell.” While protests so far have been largely calm, city police chief Ralf Martin Meyer told ZDF television: “We are sceptical as to whether this evening and tonight will remain peaceful.”
Hamburg is boosting its police force with reinforcements from around the country for the summit, which takes place Friday and Saturday, and will have 20,000 officers on hand to patrol the city’s streets, skies and waterways.
Leaders of the participating countries, among them U.S. President Donald Trump, are expected to arrive in Hamburg Thursday.
