GENEVA — Anti-G7 demonstrations in and around Geneva escalated on Sunday ahead of the Group of Seven summit in neighboring France, with clashes between protesters and police, vandalism targeting public and private property, and several arrests, according to Swiss authorities and eyewitness accounts.
The protests drew thousands of demonstrators to Geneva before the June 15-17 G7 summit in the French resort town of Evian-les-Bains. Geneva police estimated that about 20,000 people participated in the march, while organizers from the No-G7 coalition said turnout was higher. The demonstration began peacefully but later turned confrontational in parts of the city, authorities said.
Police said officers deployed tear gas after some protesters threw projectiles and damaged property near the United Nations district and other locations. Reuters witnesses reported that demonstrators set fire to a Tesla vehicle and smashed windows at a U.N. office building. Authorities also reported damage to financial institutions and other businesses.
“Some 20,000 people gathered for a march that was initially peaceful,” Reuters reported, citing police and witnesses, before violence broke out later in the day. Protesters said they were demonstrating against what they described as concentrated political and economic power represented by the G7 nations.
The No-G7 coalition, which includes environmental groups, labor organizations, feminist activists, pro-Palestinian campaigners and anti-capitalist movements, organized the march under tight restrictions imposed by Geneva authorities. Officials had approved a designated route through the city and prohibited other public gatherings during the summit period.
Swiss and French authorities had prepared extensive security measures before the summit, citing concerns about potential unrest. Thousands of police officers and military personnel were deployed across the region, while border crossings, roads and public spaces faced temporary restrictions. Many businesses in central Geneva boarded up storefronts ahead of the demonstrations.
The G7 summit brings together leaders from the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, along with representatives of the European Union. Officials said discussions are expected to focus on issues including the Middle East, Ukraine and global economic conditions.
By Monday, security remained heightened across the Geneva region as summit meetings began across the border in France. Geneva police said investigations into acts of vandalism and violence were continuing. Authorities had not released a final count of arrests or the full extent of property damage, and details remained unclear.
