Berlin arson attacks spark copycat fears

Nights of arson attacks on cars in Berlin in August 2011 have left Germans worrying that their capital may be on the brink of its own form of copycat violence that ignited London and quickly spilled over into other UK cities earlier in the month.

The authorities seemed powerless to stop it. The wave of fire-starting started to become an issue in the city-state's campaign for elections on the 18 September 2011. One German newspaper suggesteds that rampant gentrification and social exclusion could be to blame for the violence.

Spiegel Online International, 24.8.11: Germany Struggles to Quell Arson Problem http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,782094,00.html

ESO: Background information: Europe's Angry Youth. Flash Points Across the Continent http://www.europeansources.info/record/europes-angry-youth-flash-points-across-the-continent/

ESO: Background information: Cameron cuts short holidays as riots spread http://www.europeansources.info/record/cameron-cuts-short-holidays-as-riots-spread/

Deutsche Welle, 18.8.11: Police in Berlin ask for help as arson attacks on cars continue http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15322644,00.html

Spiegel Online International, 18.8.11: Car Burnings are a 'Precursor to Terrorism' http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,780965,00.html

Deutsche Welle, 23.8.11: More cars torched in Berlin as federal police brought in http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15336208,00.html

Spiegel Online International, 19.8.11: Is 'Tourism Fatigue' Behind Berlin Arson Wave? http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,781223,00.html

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