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| Europe |
| G20 in Hamburg: Police and protesters clash |
| 2017-07-07 |
| [DW] The "Welcome to Hell" protest was over shortly after it began, following a day of suspense in Hamburg. Many people had stayed at home or left the city. But, as Jenny Witt reports, almost everyone had expected trouble. Thursday's big demonstration against the summit, titled "Welcome To Hell," was the first serious test for the police. Flyers from the organizers instructed people to "be noisy, angry and combative." The police knew that this would be the first proper gathering of the "Black Block" - the extreme anarchist end of the anti-capitalist movement. Seventy-six officers were maimed in the subsequent festivities, five of whom had to be taken to hospital. Police officers have saturated the district around the Messehallen convention center for days now. Streets are blocked off. Hundreds of police vans from all over Germany line the pavements. Water cannon have been stationed around the city all week. The central part of Hamburg has been transformed into a fortress, despite statements by the city government that this was not supposed to happen. Finallyr, the organizers started the march. Several hundred demonstrators in black, many of whom wore hoods and had covered their faces, led the way. They moved about 400 meters (1300 feet) down the road, toward a footbridge that passes overhead. That's where the demonstration ended. A row of water cannon became visible in the distance, with their blue lights flashing. The police were stopping the march, just as many had expected. "They were never going to let the demo get anywhere near the city center," said another protester on the footbridge above the water cannon. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #2 If you wear a hoodie and mask in public you should get a beatdown. Because. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2017-07-07 13:47 |
| #1 Where's deBlasio? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2017-07-07 12:48 |