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The German armed forces (Bundeswehr) have issued a warning for all
soldiers stationed in Hamburg against violent attacks from protestors at
the upcoming G20 summit, the newspaper Spiegel reports on Wednesday.
In response, a general ban on wearing of uniforms in non-duty hours
was imposed and strict security measures have been enacted at barracks.
An internal security note issued by the Ministry of Defense,
information obtained by German Military Counterintelligence Service
(MAD) suggests that "soldiers moving around the city in their uniform
during announced protests could become the target of spontaneous attacks
by left-wing extremists who are willing to use violence."
Several security instructions building on the insights of the MAD
have been compiled to ensure the safety of military personnel, including
an order to appear in the wider urban agglomeration of Hamburg as
civilians when off duty between July 5 and 9.
Uniforms are only to be worn during official deployments.
The German armed forces believe that protests surrounding the G20
summit on July 7 and 8 will become a "focal point" for the potentially
violent-scene of European left-wing extremists.
The protests, some of which have already clashed with police since
the past weekend, are directed against the "G20 as representatives of
the capitalist system which they oppose."
The security note warned that the mobilization of individuals and
groups towards this end had occurred in Germany and throughout Europe
"with great intensity" ahead of the summit.
Aside from warnings for individual personnel, German defense
authorities are also concerned about the security of military bases used
as accommodation for staff. These were exposed to "a heightened risk of
blockade attempts and spontaneous demonstrations," the paper quoted by
Spiegel read. As a result, all military vehicles are to be parked in
specially-secured areas.
The German armed forces' assessment highlights the existence of
"extensive plans aimed at disturbing the summit, blocking access roads
and logistically significant intersections, as well as attacking
municipal and harbor infrastructure."
Military circles expect up to 10,000 potentially violent protestors
to arrive in Hamburg from all over Europe. Anti-capitalist groups from Greece, Spain
and Italy are seen as a threat in particular, due to their experience
of clashes with their domestic governments, which has offered them years
of training in tactics including building improvised weapons like
Molotov-cocktails and engaging in looting.
While the police are responsible for security during the G20 summit,
they will receive assistance, upon request, from the armed forces.
There are also concrete contingency plans for emergencies, such as
chemical or biological attacks, which would lead to the deployment of
military experts.
Large numbers of paramedics are on call throughout the summit and the
German air-force will continuously monitor air space above Hamburg with
a squad of fighter jets ready for action.
The security note includes a specific plan for July 7 to rescue heads
of states in boats should there be an attack on the concert at the
river-facing Elbphilharmonie concert house scheduled for the evening.
A further concern raised by the Ministry of Defense is the use of
drones by protestors to interfere with scheduled events. Police experts
are still assessing means of how to respond to this threat, details of
which remain confidential.
