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A German man poured gasoline all over his black 1995 BMW 3-series sedan and then set the vehicle on fire.

He drove the car unto the lawn outside the city's convention centre at about 7:30 a.m., police spokesman Karlheinz Wagner said.

A police statement says that the man "carried out the act because he was unemployed and could no longer afford a car due to the high cost of fuel.

The protester's name was not released as no charges have yet been laid.

It is possible that he will be charged under Germany's pollution laws.

In Germany, a litre of regular gasoline now costs about $2.47.