G20: Dozens Injured As Protesters Clash with Hamburg Police ‘Like Never Before’

Local Editor

An anti-G20 rally in Hamburg erupted into a violent confrontation between police and protesters, injuring dozens of officers by rioters.

The injuries happened during sporadic clashes on the streets of the German city continued into the night.

"There have been offenses committed by smaller groups [but] we now have the situation under control... I was there myself, I've seen nothing like that before," Hamburg police spokesman Timo Zill told German broadcaster ZDF.

The ‘Welcome to Hell' anti-globalist rally started off relatively peacefully as activists marched through the streets chanting slogans and holding banners. Clashes begun in the early evening after roughly 1,000 anti-globalism activists, wearing face masks, reportedly refused to reveal their identity to the authorities.

According to an official police statement, the trouble started when officers tried to separate aggressive black-bloc rioters from peaceful protesters at the St. Pauli Fish Market but were met with bottles, poles and iron bars, prompting them to use justifiable force.

Police used pepper-spray on rioting protesters. Water cannons were also deployed by authorities and several people seemed to be injured as a number of people were seen on the ground or with bloody faces being led away by police. Footage from the scene also showed columns of green and orange smoke rising above the crowds.

At least 76 police officers were injured in the riots, most, though, suffered light injuries, Bild reported. Five of them were admitted to hospital, a police officer told AFP.

One policeman suffered an eye injury after fireworks exploded in front of his face.
The number of injured demonstrators has not yet been released by authorities, DW German notes.

As a result of the violence, organizers declared the protest over Thursday evening, but pockets of activists remained on the streets throughout the night.

Police confirmed persistent sporadic attacks on security forces in the districts of St. Pauli and Altona. Damage to property has also been reported throughout the city.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team