Tesla torched in Geneva as G7 protest turns violent

A protest in Geneva over the G7 summit turned violent Saturday, with demonstrators smashing bank windows and setting a Tesla on fire.

The attack on the electric vehicle came as several hundred protesters marched through the city ahead of the Group of Seven leaders' meeting. The Tesla, parked on a side street, was doused with an accelerant and set ablaze. Fire crews arrived within minutes and extinguished the flames. No injuries were reported.

Protesters also targeted a branch of UBS, shattering its glass facade. Police in riot gear moved in to disperse the crowd, making several arrests. Geneva authorities said they had deployed extra officers ahead of the summit, which begins Sunday.

The G7 gathering, hosted by Switzerland, is expected to focus on climate policy, trade tensions, and the war in Ukraine. Protest groups had announced plans for demonstrations across the city. Saturday's march was one of the largest, though organizers had called for peaceful action.

A spokesperson for Tesla in Switzerland declined to comment on the incident. The company's vehicles have been targeted before by activists critical of its environmental record or its CEO's political stance.

Geneva police said they were reviewing security footage and urged anyone with information to come forward. The summit runs through Tuesday.