Clashes broke out on Wednesday in
the centre of Frankfurt, where thousands of anti-austerity
demonstrators rallied ahead of the opening of the new
headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB).
Eight police officers are reported hurt and 350 people were
arrested after members of the group, that goes by the name
'Blockupy', started throwing stones and set seven police cars on
fire.
The police had erected barbed wire and barricades to keep
the protesters at least 10 meters away from the premises but the
measures were not sufficient to controll the group and water
canons were used after the scuffles erupted.
Protesters said police threw tear gas at them but police
spokeswoman Claudia Rogalski responded that officers are
equipped with pepper spray and that was the substance they most
likely used in their defence.
"There are peaceful demonstrators and also criminals," said
Rogalski adding that over one thousand officers had been
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