Paint attack protest on city German Consulate

The consular general arrived today to find the front of the building and several windows splattered and 'G8' daubed on the door in blue ink. The summit of world leaders is due to take place in Germany next month.

Police were called to the premises in Eglinton Crescent, Haymarket, earlier today and inquiries are on-going.

It is the latest in a string of attacks on official buildings and comes just a week after the US consulate in Edinburgh was vandalised.

However, Consular General Ingo Radcke was philosophical about the damage at the German building.

"I came in at about 7.30am, a little bit earlier than usual, and I saw it," he said. "Someone had thrown yellow paint at the front door and some of the windows of our offices.

"G8 is also written on the door. It seems to be in connection with the G8 summit which is going to be held in Germany.

"There are people who are against this meeting taking place because they do not believe it will do any good."

Mr Radcke added: "This is not the first time something like this has happened. A similar thing happened at the US consulate.

"At the end of the day we will brush the paint away and that will be it."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to host leaders from the US, UK, France, Italy, Japan, Russia and Canada at a hotel in Heiligendamm, from June 6 to 8.

About 100,000 protesters are expected to descend on the Baltic Coast, ahead of the conference, in many cases with the intention of causing anarchy and destruction.

The German authorities are constructing a 7.5 mile security fence to protect the G8 leaders.

They suspect anti-capitalism campaigners are planning fire bombings and other violent attacks.

When the conference was held at Gleneagles in 2005 it sparked rioting on the streets of Edinburgh.

The attack on the US consulate on April 30 this year was in protest against the war in Iraq. Red paint was thrown on the building in Regent Terrace, and 'Out of Iraq' was spray painted on the door.

The incident, which US consul Lisa Vickers described as "wanton destruction", followed similar attacks on the offices of Edinburgh MPs Nigel Griffiths and Alistair Darling.

And on March 20, the fourth anniversary of the start of the Iraq war, staff arrived at Mr Griffiths' offices in Minto Street to find four smashed windows and anti-war slogans painted on the walls and front door.

Mr Darling's offices on Rutland Square, which he shares with MSP Sarah Boyack, were similarly attacked and Stop The War leaflets were scattered around the entrance.

A group calling itself an anti-war coalition claimed responsibility for the attacks.

It is not known who is behind the vandalism at the German consulate.

A Lothian and Borders police spokesman said: "We can confirm that overnight there was some graffiti at the German consulate.

"We are making inquiries and would appeal for anyone with information to come forward. At this stage we do not know at what time it took place."