Hamburg: Protesters clash with police ahead of G20 summit

Hamburg: Protesters clash with police ahead of G20 summit

The incidents occurred on Thursday night after extreme left-wing activists threw bottles, firecrackers and other objects at the police, who responded with water cannons and tear gas, AFP reported. What was supposed to be a peaceful march of about 12,000 protesters against globalization ahead of the G20 summit in this German town, was stopped by the police in order to disperse about 1,000 extreme leftists, the agency reports. Five people have been arrested.

At the head of the column, demonstrators carried banners reading, "Break up G20" and "Welcome to hell." The extreme left-wing "Black Bloc" was made up several hundred activists dressed in black who carried a huge black balloon.

Up to 100,000 demonstrators are expected to show up ahead of and during the two-day summit. The summit in Hamburg will gather world leaders, including of Russia, the US and China - Vladimir Putin, Donald Tramp and Xi Jinping. According to news agencies, this could be the most tense summit yet.

About 20,000 police officers will provide security in Hamburg.