Berlin's car arsonists remain a political hot potato (News Feature)

By Andreas Rabenstein and Helen Maguire Jun 19, 2009, 13:02 GMT

630 Berlin - Setting a car on fire is quick, easy and carries little risk of being caught by the police. Some might say it's even more straightforward than stealing a bicycle.

These are all reasons why torching cars has become a preferred activist symbol for Berlin's left-wing extremists, who in turn have encouraged copycat imitators.

Since the start of the year, more than than 170 cars have been burnt out in Germany's capital, in 80 separate attacks.

Just recently, two cars were torched outside the house of a prominent Christian Democrat (CDU) Berlin politician, Robbin Juhnke.

The police appear to be helpless; in recent weeks they arrested a number of alleged left-wing perpetrators, but they are no closer to charging people for the acts of vandalism.

Parts of Berlin have long been considered bastions of left-wing extremism, a legacy from the days when the city was split and young German radicals moved to West Berlin as a way of dodging the military draft.

During the 1970s, violent confrontations with the police came to a head when squatters occupied derelict houses in the central district of Kreuzberg.

Since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, left-wing activists have opposed the 'gentrification' process which has squeezed less wealthy residents out of areas like Prenzlauer Berg, a former East Berlin neighbourhood occupied by artists and critics of the communist regime.

What better symbol to oppose the 'fat cats' grown rich on capitalism, than to torch their fancy cars, the anarchists argue.

The favoured method is to ignite a chemical firelighter, of the kind used to start a barbecue fire, and place it in a strategic spot under the car. This gives the arsonist plenty of time for a relaxed getaway before the flames take hold.

The police estimates that just one third of the 1,000 cars torched in the past four years have been politically motivated. The rest of the attacks are thought to be the work of copycats.

In the internet, the arsonists post messages celebrating their acts of vandalism. The attack in front of Juhnke's house was justified in reference to his reputation as a 'hardliner of the Berlin CDU.'

Juhnke in turn sees the problem in Berlin's left-leaning government coalition of Social Democrats (SPD) and the Left Party. 'A climate of encouragement has been generated,' the CDU politician said.

The state needed to move strongly and decisively against the left- wing violence, Juhnke said. However he accused Berlin's mayor Klaus Wowereit and Senator Ehrhardt Koerting of being 'blind on the left eye,' and ignoring the problem.

The police say they are doing everything in their power to stop the attacks.

In the last few days, four young men were arrested after witnesses saw a smouldering car in the district of Friedrichshain. Paper bags were placed over the men's hands to preserve any traces of the alleged crime.

Nevertheless, the men were released as there was insufficient evidence against them.

More police officers, many of them plain-clothes, are now patrolling the key areas of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg and the central Mitte district.

There has been an overall increase in arrests, and alleged perpetrators are being held while their flats are searched for evidence.

However, the police is bracing itself for further violence. On Saturday, left-wingers plan to occupy the site of former Tempelhof airport, the culmination of a proclaimed Action Week.

The activists claim to have peaceful intentions. But the police have not yet forgotten the demonstrations on May 1, when protesters got violent and threw paving stones at law enforcement officers.

In July, the first trials are due to start after a total of 52 charges were made in connection with Mayday violence, including attempted murder for two young men who threw fire bombs at the police.