With the commencement of the G20 summit, protests and marches broke out across the host city of Hamburg in Germany. During the protests on Friday morning, protesters were pushed back as they tried to march down the streets where the G20 delegates were expected. German police had their hand’s full and initially stopped the march, resulting in incidents of violence across the city. Upon stopping the march, the police were confronted with rocks, fireworks and Molotov cocktails. Several vehicles were set ablaze, following which the police deployed water cannons to control the situation.
The Group of 20 which brings together the world’s leading industrialised economies kicked off on Friday. The group accounts for 85 per cent of world GDP and two-thirds of its population. The meeting will feature discussions on climate change and Donald Trump’s first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Demonstrators at one of the many sit-ins in Hamburg. The protest titled “Welcome to Hell” against the G-20 summit where the leaders of the group of 20 meet to discuss climate change, free trade and mass global migration.
German police used water cannons and pepper spray to disperse the anti-capitalist protest. The march turned violent after police interrupted the protest 300 meters into its route.
Paramedics carry a person out of the 12,000-strong demonstration; with several protesters suffering injuries. Hamburg police said 74 officers sustained injuries, although majority of the injuries were minor.
Protesters attempted to enter the restricted “red zone” close to where the summit is being held. Participants of the “Color the Red Zone” protest attempted to disrupt the summit and inconvenience participants.
Hours after the protests turned violent, police directed peaceful protesters to distance themselves from the violent ones. Protesters were seen throwing rocks, Molotov cocktails, firecrackers and other pyrotechnics.
Smoke can be seen across the Hamburg horizon in the early hours of Friday. As protesters set fire to vehicles and other pyrotechnic materials.
The latest rounds of the protest are said to be small and unorganised, yet unruly. Police asked residents to avoid the area near the Hamburg-Altona Railway Station where multiple vehicles were gutted.
Hamburg has a history of anarchist, left-wing and squatter violence, with the initial skirmishes occurring on the famous Hafenstrasse road. Late in the evening, approximately 8,000 protesters regrouped in Hamburg’s red light district for a peaceful march.
Protesters were heard chanting anti-Trump and anti-capitalist slogans, but the main concern was the exclusivity of the G20 summit, with the wealthiest twenty countries making decisions on behalf of the rest of the world.
Police retaliated with water canons, smoke bombs and tear gas. More than a 100,000 protesters are set to join protest marches across Hamburg on Saturday.