Protestors blasted with WATER CANNON as violent G20 riots break out in Hamburg
WATER CANNONS and tear gas have been deployed by German riot police during chaotic scenes in Hamburg.
Police blast protesters with water cannons in Hamburg
Thousands of protestors have taken to the streets following the 2017 G20 summit, which is being hosted by Germany’s second largest city.
Some 20,000 police from all of Germany's 16 states have been deployed on the streets to face off against up to 100,000 protesters, including an estimated 8,000 who police say are prepared to use violence.
Shocking images from the riots last night, which then continued this morning, show as some of the protestors lobbed dangerous objects at officers.
Others, dressed in black and with their faces covered, refused to obey police orders and were kettled by hundreds of officers.
Riot police have used water cannons and pepper spray at G20 protests in Hamburg
Fires were lit in the streets as the chaos ensued, while the masses of people swarmed around the police.
And demontstrators have continued to attack police and emergency vehicles, and there has been damage reported to construction sites, banks and business premises.
Scores of parked cars have also been set alight, causing mass panic to residents
Protestors threw missiles at police and lit fires in the streets
Water cannons and tear gas were deployed
One injured man was also shown being stretchered from the scene. It is unknown how he sustained his injuries.
Many other protestors were hurt, including several with severe injuries form police batons, according to Andreas Blechschmidt, one of the organisers of the march.
Chaotic scenes during G20 protests in Hamburg this evening
And there are unconfirmed reports that one of the protestors suffered life-threatening injuries.
German authorities have said that at least 76 police officers were injured in last night’s violence, although most officers sustained light injuries.
Riot police fired water cannon at a group of about a thousand of the black-clad protesters who hurled bottles in a demonstration organisers had dubbed "Welcome to Hell".
Around 100,000 protestors are expected to gather from countries across Europe over the next few days, in an attempt to humiliate G20 leaders on the world stage.
Hamburg residents have expressed their concerns at the protests this week.
One young mother told a local journalist: "My daughter is afraid.”
Hamburg police and demonstrators violently clash at G20 protests
And posters put up around the city advised protestors: "Take care! The kids are afraid. Kids inside - Stop!”
Most of the trouble this evening is centred around a fish market in the centre of the German city.
Journalists were forced to flee as protestors unleashed a hail of glass bottles towards them.
Protestors were blasted with water cannons
Many protestors were detained by police
Timo Zill, spokesman for the city’s police force, assured that the police will appropriately deal with acts of violence.
"Militant protesters who exercise violence are not protected by Article 8,” he said. “We will act systematically."