German motorist crashes gate where Obama to speak

By Erik Kirschbaum

BERLIN (Reuters) - German police detained a motorist on Wednesday who crashed through barricades set up at monument where Barack Obama will hold a speech on Thursday and dumped red paint from his speeding car.

Police said the 40-year-old man was overpowered by security officials who first tried in vain to used metal rods to bring his car to a halt at the spot where the U.S. Democratic candidate for president will speak on Thursday afternoon.

The man was turned over to police and taken into custody for questioning. The car was searched for explosives. No one was injured.

"We don't yet know what his motives were but it does not appear to have had anything to do with politics," said Berlin police spokesman Bernhard Schodrowski. "That's all under investigation and he is still in detention being questioned."

Photographers at the Victory Column watching the preparation work for Obama's speech said the small dark car drove at a high speed, with squeaking tires, through low temporary barriers set up around the closed-off east side of the traffic circle.

The incident happened at 4:30 p.m. (1430) and lasted several minutes.

"He drove several laps around the closed-off area and red paint poured out of his car," said Schodrowski, adding federal investigators were involved in the interrogation.

"He finally slowed down and stopped. He was then immediately overpowered by security guards."