Geneva protests against G7 summit turn violent: Tesla torched, UN windows smashed as 20,000 march ahead of Evian talks
A largely peaceful march of about 20,000 people against the G7 summit in Evian turned violent on Sunday, with protesters setting a Tesla on fire, shattering UN office windows, and clashing with police who fired tear gas.
Protest turns violent
A protest against the upcoming G7 summit started peacefully in Geneva on Sunday afternoon but escalated into clashes near the United Nations headquarters. An estimated 20,000 people took part, with some groups throwing bottles, stones, concrete fragments and firecrackers at police lines. Officers responded with tear gas to disperse the crowd. The police spokesperson, Alexandre Brahier, said that after several incidents, "the protesters were ordered to disperse."
Targets: Tesla, UN, and corporate buildings
Protesters set a Tesla car ablaze and broke windows at UN offices. The buildings of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) headquarters were also targeted. Elsewhere on the route, wooden railings were torn down at Place Banque du Leman. Riot police sealed off a safety zone while firefighters extinguished the burning vehicle.
- 20,000-strong protest in Geneva turns violent, with Tesla set on fire and UN windows broken.
- G7 summit begins in Evian-les-Bains, France. Leaders to discuss Middle East, Ukraine and Iran.
- Summit scheduled to conclude.
Organizers and participants
The march drew a broad coalition, including environmentalists, feminists, Palestinian rights supporters, defenders of independent media, and self-described enemies of imperialism. Among them were roughly 600 militants of the so-called Black Bloc, many wearing hooded black shirts and masks. Protesters carried signs against the war in Gaza, against Iran, and against sexism, as well as banners denouncing Donald Trump. Organizers distributed a manual with security-perimeter maps and advice on how to behave if detained.
The protesters were ordered to disperse after several incidents.
G7 summit on the horizon
The summit of the Group of Seven is set for June 15 through 17 in the French resort town of Evian-les-Bains, just across the lake from Geneva. Leaders of France, Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, along with EU representatives, are expected to focus on the war fronts in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as diplomatic efforts regarding Iran. Swiss and French authorities have deployed thousands of police officers, blocked roads and banned unauthorized gatherings.
Trump, Musk, and economic grievances
The protest came just days after Tesla owner Elon Musk became the world’s first trillionaire, a milestone that demonstrators said has reignited concerns about inequality. Musk serves as an adviser to US President Donald Trump, who will be attending the summit. Both figures were frequent targets of the protesters’ ire.
