Police clash with protestors during G20 summit

By Ayhan Simsek

HAMBURG, Germany (AA) - German police used tear gas and water cannons on anti-capitalist demonstrators rallying in Hamburg on Thursday to protest the G20 summit.

The peaceful protest of around 12,000 demonstrators turned ugly after police intervened to stop several hundred masked protestors who refused to remove their black masks and bandanas.

The organisers of the “G20 – Welcome to hell!” protest announced that they ended the rally after many protestors were injured by a "disproportionate" police response.

Nevertheless, hundreds of demonstrators continued their protests at Hamburg’s popular Fish Market district. Several cars were reportedly set on fire.

In a press release, Hamburg police blamed the “Black Bloc” anarchist group for the violence and said officials were unable to identify the number of injured people.

Germany is hosting leaders from the world’s 20 largest economies at the Hamburg summit on July 7-8, set to focus on the global economy, trade, climate change, and the fight against international terrorism.