The anti‑G7 demonstration in Geneva began peacefully with thousands singing and marching near Lake Geneva, but parts of the crowd later turned violent. Police estimated about 20,000 attendees, while roughly 600 masked "Black Bloc" activists were identified among the marchers. Incidents included a vehicle set alight, attacks on PwC offices and UN‑related sites, shattered tram stops and the use of tear gas; authorities reported several arrests and no injuries.
Geneva Anti‑G7 March Turns Violent After Carnival‑Like Start
A demonstrator standing next to a fuming tear gas pellet during the anti-G7 demonstration in Geneva (Fabrice COFFRINI)(Fabrice COFFRINI/AFP/AFP)
An anti‑G7 demonstration in Geneva began on Sunday with a carnival atmosphere but deteriorated into clashes that left shopfronts and public buildings damaged and police deploying tear gas against masked youths.
Peaceful Start
Thousands gathered in a park overlooking Lake Geneva to escape the midday heat, catch up with friends and prepare placards. The mood was celebratory early on, with singing, dancing and musical groups performing brass and Latin rhythms. Signs bore slogans such as "G7 = racket. Make anti‑imperialism great again." Marco, 36, a Geneva resident, told AFP the event felt like evidence that "the left is still alive".
Escalation
Geneva police estimated about 20,000 people attended the march, the vast majority peaceful. Embedded within the crowd, however, were roughly 600 masked and hooded individuals identified by police as hard‑core "Black Bloc" protesters. Not long after the march set off a Tesla was set alight and several firecrackers were thrown at riot police units brought in from other parts of Switzerland.
Damage and Clashes
The offices of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Geneva came under sustained attack: windows were smashed, metal shutters torn off and security cameras targeted. Glass panels around the UNHCR memorial honoring agency staff who died in service were also damaged and spray‑painted. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) had its front doors smashed. Tram stops along the route were shattered and a bin was set on fire. Demonstrators affixed "refugees welcome" stickers to street signs during the march.
Police Response and Aftermath
Police responded with several rounds of tear gas, at times sending crowds scattering into side streets, hedges and private gardens as people sought to wash their eyes. Authorities reported "several arrests" and, after nightfall, said no injuries had been reported so far. The Geneva cantonal police described property damage as "limited" considering the number of disruptive elements identified.
Organizers' Statement
The No‑G7 coalition, which organized the demonstration to protest the nearby G7 summit in Evian, said the march had conveyed "the spirit of Geneva — the spirit of freedom and human rights" and that it sent "a message of solidarity and hope to the world." A 65‑year‑old retiree, Claude, told reporters he marched "to demonstrate against the assassins of humanity."
Overview: What began as a festive protest against the G7 devolved into a lengthy, at times violent stand‑off between police and masked militants, leaving several public and private sites damaged and prompting multiple arrests.
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