Hamburg police arson investigators wearing masks examined four charred vehicle wrecks Monday morning, protecting themselves from the acrid smell of fire as they photographed the cars destroyed overnight.
The incident marks the latest in a series of vehicle fires across Hamburg, raising concerns about escalating political violence. This follows a June arson attack in the Groß Flottbek district, where two Mercedes-Benz vehicles were set ablaze. A far-left group claimed duty for that incident online, stating they had targeted cars belonging to a local businessman but mistakenly set fire to vehicles owned by uninvolved parties. Just one night later,a mini Cooper burned in Nienstedten around 4:30 a.m., with flames spreading to damage a Saab.That Mini was parked on the property of Kajetan von Mentzingen, a manager at the technology firm Vincorion, which operates in the defence sector.
Most recently, the car belonging to Alexander baumann, a leading politician with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, was among those destroyed in the Monday morning fires. Baumann confirmed the arson to Bild, stating his vehicle was fully gutted.Authorities have not yet confirmed a direct link between this latest incident and the previous attacks, but are investigating potential political motivations.The fires occurred in Hamburg’s western districts, and police are appealing for information regarding the perpetrators. The incidents are prompting increased security measures for political figures and a broader debate about political extremism in the city.
