Wave of crackdowns against leftist/activist groups sweep across Germany ahead of G-8 protests

[Selatius]

Germany: Anarchist projects raided by authorities as part of G8 repression
Wednesday, May 09 2007 @ 08:09 AM PDT
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Several projects and flats in hamburg and berlin are being raided at the moment. In
Hamburg, 4 flats, one office and the the Rote Flora, where the Convergence
Center begins in 3 weeks are being raided. In Berlin, the Mehringhof, mad,
bethanien project (libertad office and Glocal anti g8 office) , fusion,
kanalb (radio and media project), so36.net (tech collective and alternative
internet hoster), and so on. The reason for some of the raids is the
"forming a terrorist association" paragraph 129a.

Some more here:

AP - BERLIN - Police raided the premises of leftist groups in cities across
Germany Wednesday on suspicion of a plot to attack next month's G-8 summit.

Raids across Germany on G-8 fears

By KIRSTEN GRIESHABER, Associated Press Writer
Wed May 9, 8:00 AM ET

BERLIN - Police raided the premises of leftist groups in cities across
Germany Wednesday on suspicion of a plot to attack next month's G-8 summit.

More than 900 federal and local police officers in cities including Berlin,
Hamburg and Bremen searched some 40 apartments or offices used by various
leftist groups, federal prosecutors said in a statement.

...

"The militant extreme left groups and their members are suspected of having
founded a terrorist group, or of being members of such an organization, with
the specific goal of staging firebombings and other violent attacks in order
to disrupt or prevent the upcoming G-8 summit," the statement said.

The Anti-Fascist Leftists of Berlin said the searches targeted activists who
were organizing protests against the summit of the Group of Eight
industrialized nations.

"The only point of these searches is to criminalize and disrupt the protests
against the G-8," the group said. "The accusation that terrorists would
coordinate their movements through a leftist-run Internet server is
ridiculous."

Unfortunately, my friend didn't give me the AP link in the email he sent, but I found this:

Protests in Germany Over Raids


Thursday May 10, 2007 3:31 PM

AP Photo FHBG121, BRE114

By MELISSA EDDY

Associated Press Writer

BERLIN (AP) - Thousands of people staged spontaneous demonstrations overnight in major German cities, police said Thursday, after nationwide raids against anti-globalization activists suspected of plotting to disrupt next month's Group of Eight summit.

Hamburg police detained eight demonstrators who threw stones and bottles at officers securing the protests, staged outside the offices of a main activist group that had been raided. Another four demonstrators were arrested in Berlin, although protests there remained peaceful.

Supporters of Germany's anti-globalization activists called the demonstrations hours after hundreds of officers, acting on a warrant from federal prosecutors, searched 40 offices and apartments used by left-wing protesters in Berlin, Hamburg and elsewhere.

...

The protesters say they oppose the G-8 summit because the world's rich leaders ignore the suffering of people in developing countries while unrestrained globalization helps big business at the expense of the environment and workers.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6622353,00.html

[High Plains]

1. Is the German state being a bit heavy-handed?

In any case, it looks like it'll be an exciting G8.

[Selatius]

2. In my mind, yes.

Since they are using a few so-called crackpots as an excuse to launch raids against all activist/leftist groups.

[unkachuck]

3. I bet....

....our globe-trotting Herman Goring has something to do with this....the long arm of uncle dickie and the heavy hand of global fascism is not a pretty sight....