• Police deploy a water cannon on a group of protesters. Thousands of riot officers pursued what they said was a minority of violence-minded activists as the bulk of protesters conducted themselves peacefully ahead of a rally in the city’s main square. Boris Roessler / EPA
    Police deploy a water cannon on a group of protesters. Thousands of riot officers pursued what they said was a minority of violence-minded activists as the bulk of protesters conducted themselves peacefully ahead of a rally in the city’s main square. Boris Roessler / EPA
  • A burning blockade. Police said one officer was injured by stones thrown near the city’s Alte Oper opera house, several private vehicles were burned overnight, and two police cars were set on fire at a police station in the city centre. Boris Roessler / EPA
    A burning blockade. Police said one officer was injured by stones thrown near the city’s Alte Oper opera house, several private vehicles were burned overnight, and two police cars were set on fire at a police station in the city centre. Boris Roessler / EPA
  • Activists clash with police during a demonstration. Hundreds of officers ringed the ECB headquarters ahead of the inauguration ceremony Thomas Lohnes / Getty Images
    Activists clash with police during a demonstration. Hundreds of officers ringed the ECB headquarters ahead of the inauguration ceremony Thomas Lohnes / Getty Images
  • Riot Police form a cordon. Protesters are targeting the ECB because of the bank’s role in supervising efforts to restrain spending and reduce debt in financially troubled countries such as Greece. Odd Andersen / AFP Photo
    Riot Police form a cordon. Protesters are targeting the ECB because of the bank’s role in supervising efforts to restrain spending and reduce debt in financially troubled countries such as Greece. Odd Andersen / AFP Photo
  • Four German police cars set on fire. Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters
    Four German police cars set on fire. Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters
  • The Blockupy alliance says activists plan to try to blockade the new headquarters and to disrupt what they term capitalist business as usual. Thomas Lohnes / Getty Images
    The Blockupy alliance says activists plan to try to blockade the new headquarters and to disrupt what they term capitalist business as usual. Thomas Lohnes / Getty Images
  • Some 10,000 people were expected for a rally in Frankfurt’s main square, the Roemerberg. Organisers have chartered a special train bringing demonstrators from Berlin and are bussing in others from around Germany and other European countries. Thomas Lohnes / Getty Images
    Some 10,000 people were expected for a rally in Frankfurt’s main square, the Roemerberg. Organisers have chartered a special train bringing demonstrators from Berlin and are bussing in others from around Germany and other European countries. Thomas Lohnes / Getty Images
  • Frankfurt police say most demonstrators are expected to be peaceful, but that violence-prone elements could use the crowds as cover. Odd Andersen / AFP Photo
    Frankfurt police say most demonstrators are expected to be peaceful, but that violence-prone elements could use the crowds as cover. Odd Andersen / AFP Photo
  • A fireman extinguishes a burning barricade during a Blockupy demonstration. Marius Becker / EPA
    A fireman extinguishes a burning barricade during a Blockupy demonstration. Marius Becker / EPA

World

Anti-ECB ‘Blockupy’ rally turns violent in Frankfurt — in pictures

Rob Gurdebeke

March 18, 2015

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Demonstrators set three police cars alight and two officers were injured on Wednesday as authorities confronted anti-austerity protesters trying to blockade the inauguration ceremony for the European Central Bank’s new headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany.

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