On May 9th, German police raided about 40 locations, including social centers and private homes in Berlin and Hamburg, as well as an alternative web provider. Targeted are social projects and private persons organizing against the coming G8 summit, or suspected of doing so. Press Release from Anti-G8 organizers.

Following the raids solidarity demonstrations took place in Germany and across Europe. In Berlin and Hamburg nigh-time marches numbering the thousands took place, in Hamburg demonstrates clashed with riot police. Photos | Video (corporate media) from Hamburg. The German embassies in Edinburgh and Amsterdam were attacked as well as the headquarters of German pharmaceutical giant Novartis. Photo and report from Novartis attack (in german). Hackers also attacked the website www.german-police.org.

Police forces searched the Rote Flora social center in Hamburg and parts of the Bethanien social center in Berlin, both planned convergence spaces for the G8 protests next month. Elsewhere in Berlin and Hamburg a number of offices, private flats and housing projects have been searched, and searches have been reported in the city of Bremen. The criminal investigators put special attention on the alternative Internet service provider so36.net, where many left and alternative projects host their websites, mailing lists and e-mail addresses. Statement from So36.net

The order for the searches was based on Germany's terrorism provision §129a, "Formation of a terrorist association with the aim to stop the G8 summit". In Germany, §129a investigations have been used to gather data about protest movements and as an intimidation tactic. Only 2% of all §129a investigations have resulted in sentencing.

According to Hanne Jobst of the Berlin Bethanien office, "Who invites the G8 summit, also invites the protest against it. All attempts to criminalize this movement will not prevent us from exposing worldwide inequalities during the G8 summit."

German police have said they will try to prevent blockades and obstructions of the G8 summit, and the federal government reportedly plans to suspend the EU's system of open borders and conduct controls along the German borders. Full coverage on UK Indymedia and Indymedia Germany | Legal info on the G8 protest