Broom Broom Go Boom Boom

Burnt-out cars and people on crutches - two of the more curious mysteries I see with a surprising frequency in Berlin. The reason for the numbers of crutches remains unsolved. However, I am now aware why burnt-out cars are scattered in the posh boulevards of town. I can separate the two. So, therefore, the broken limbs cannot be a result of German drivers being thrown by the blast as they scramble out of exploding vehicles.

Over the past six months, following violent clashes that erupted at a neo-Nazi rally held in Lichtenberg, Left-wing activists have blazed a trail across the more 'well to do' parts of town. Since January, 170 cars have been torched, close to a hundred of these has been attributed by the police to being politically motivated.

This anonymous website maps the car burnings

Mercedes, BMWs and Porsches have been set alight using barbeque Firelighters. This appears the method of choice, due to the Flame bearer being more in danger of getting a stitch during his flee from the scene, than being hit by a shower of shrapnel.

A motive for the arson attacks is believed to be the gentrification of Berlin. There is a brazenly evident disdain, not to mention fear, of the affect this will have on a city which proudly holds it's diverse, effervescent neighbourhoods up to be admired.

It is believed the attacks are triggered by the very definition of gentrification - affluent middle classes displacing the residents of a traditionally working class neighbourhood. Having witnessed the Croc* wearing, wooden bike buying, baby shop breeding, eye stinging missiles to affordable living in London, Prenzlauer Berg is ripe with evidence it is following suit. With that, a simmering or should I say smouldering resentment will persist.

* Even the recession has a silver lining