Activists who petrol bombed police stations in Berlin and Hamburg in apparent co-ordinated attacks last week were making a ‘declaration of war’, says top German cop Rainer Wendt said.

Speaking to English language portal The Local.de, the head of the German Police Union (DPoIG) also warned that the anarchists are ‘prepared to kill people’. “Allegedly they don’t want the rich to move into their city districts. I think that’s all wrong. They don’t have any goals at all aside from blind hate against the state and order,” he said. “This is a declaration of the war on the police and on the state.”

The latest incidents followed a year in which 125 – mainly luxury brand – cars have been set on fire in Berlin, an increase from 72 in 2008. Speaking about the issue in March this year Berlin resident DJ Hell was understanding, despite owning a 60s Ford Mustang classic. “Cars have been set on fire for years in Berlin. It’s an anarchist thing, they burn these rich people’s cars, such as BMWs and Mercedes cars, as a protest against all these outsiders with lots of money moving to Berlin and destroying the system here.”

“In a way it’s true that monthly rents have risen, as have the prices of coffees in coffee shops. Everything has gone up in price but these outsiders can afford it because to them it’s still cheap. It is cheap still but it was even 50% lower 10 years ago,” he pointed out.