Athens- Arson attacks were carried out in Greece overnight on German companies and German-made cars with police saying Friday that they believed the attacks were related to the ongoing Group of Eight summit being hosted by Germany. Sales branches for Opel and Mercedes-Benz in Athens were among the businesses hit with seven cars parked in their lots destroyed. A bus belonging to a German-Greek school was also set on fire.
Police said the perpetrators had lashed together several household gas cylinders and set them on fire.
In the northern port city of Thessaloniki, gas containers were set on fire at the entrance of a supermarket belonging to the German Lidl chain as well as a store selling household appliances made by Germany's Miele company.
Three cars parked in front of the Mercedes offices were also set on fire in Thessaloniki.
No one was hurt in the attacks, and no one claimed responsibility for them.
Similar anonymous arson attacks have been carried out for years in Greece and occurred as the Group of Eight key industrialized nations were meeting for their annual summit in Heiligendamm, Germany. The summits have become a flashpoint for protests.
