G20: Violence

[erikx]

At the moment I am in Hamburg, where the G20 is held.

Random cars have been set on fire last night. Basically in walking distance.

This morning a police station has been attacked. Molotov cocktails have been involved and police cars set on fire.

There is also a video takin from the inside, showing black clothed "demonstrators" breaking in from the outside. In full daylight. And people are just walking by.

The sound of helicopters is always in the air. Police is alarming other units all over Germany to ensure manpower.

If this is the beginning, I wonder what will happen next night.

On the other hand, citizens sit on the outside and have their usual coffee.
To a degree, life is pretty normal. Although many people do not go to work today.

EDIT:

Rumors have it, that the army is in town. Image related.

 

[erikx]

Army is not in town, seems to be a usual transfer of vehicles, which "collided" with the G20.

 

[chromerhino]

Geez. Thanks for the insight and update.

 

[erikx]

Last night extreme violence sprang up.

"Protestors" looted some stores, flames where partially several meters high. Many more cars have been destroyed, many of them small and inexpensive, of course, but this is minor, compared to the overall violence.

Special police units entered the main are of conflict with machine guns and assault rifles for protection of the police. This is EXTREMELY unusual in Germany.

Surreal: people are eating in restaurants, while on the outside protestors fight the police and basically seeming to try to level the area, where bicycle, garbage cans etc. burned.

One reporter noted, that a surprisingly high number of protestors fighting capitalism are wearing Jack Wolfskin and similar brands.

For two hours, police did not intervene. Why not, is not known to me.
(UPDATE: police ruled the situation as being to dangerous to take action. No action for three hours, in the middle of major metropole in Germany, while terror unfolds.)

Thursday a protestor blinded pilots of a police helicopter with laser pointers. Today, he has been identified, arrested, facing charges of attempted murder.

Police asks citizens to upload images, helping them to identify offenders.

Images and videos:

http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/g20-gipfel-spur-der-verwuestung-in-hamburg-fotostrecke-149577.html

 

[erikx]

Minor stuff last night. German SWAT teams waited in standby next to the violent protestors, but no need to intervene.

The layer and spokesperson of a very prominent and active leftist centre in Hamburg, called "Rote Flora", which resides for years in an occupied building, stated:

The massive riots, looting, etc. shouldn't have in the area in which the occupied building is located. Instead the massive attacks should have happened in the high-income areas. He added, that the leftist centre essentially "sympathizes" with riots like these.

Newsletters and citizens react appalled, this support of this massive violence is unthinkable: many many people lost their cars, their small shops, and thus basically their existence.

This occupied building is an important focal point for all leftists in the city and an internally renowned symbol for left-wing "activists." The people occupying the building are connected to groups like the Antifa etc.

Impressions of last night:

 

[erikx]

Truly bizarre moment, captured on video:

 

[erikx]

95% of persons arrested are Germans.
5% are from other countries, who travelled to Hamburg to "protest" intentionally.

To thank the police for their efforts, people are handing sweets and snacks to the police on the street.

 

[erikx]

What happens when a diplomatic vehicle gets blocked:

Dedicated pizza delivery during riot, he even discusses with riot police to let him through:

 

[wwpalum]

Wow! Don't really know what else to say but WOW!

 

[erikx]

Blocking police convoy during emergency operation and the result: