Cars burn in Germany, police say no link to France

9 November 2005

BERLIN – In Germany, police counted 10 cars burned out overnight in major cities on Wednesday morning, but rejected suggestions that French-style rioting was coming to the country.

No arrests have been made, and police were still studying whether the apparent arsons were the work of disaffected immigrant youths, of German political extremists who seek a revolution, or of ordinary vandals.

In the western city of Cologne, where four cars were set on fire during the night, a police spokesman said there was no connection to the French rioting: “We don’t have Parisian conditions here.”

*sidebar1*In the capital Berlin, where six cars and a motor-scooter were set on fire during the night, a spokesman said it was too early to say if there was a connection. No arrests had been made. On Sunday night, five cars had been set on fire in Berlin.

Cars were also burned late Sunday in the German city of Bremen.

Berlin police have stepped up patrols in poor city districts as a precaution. The capital has a “tradition” of riots every May 1 in which leftists and immigrant youths ally for an evening of brawls with police, smashing shop windows and setting cars or trash on fire.

DPA

Subject: German news