Violent clashes at start of world leaders’ talks

Police pelted with bottles as protest march is abandoned amid Hamburg chaos

German police have clashed with protesters in Hamburg ahead of the G20 summit, using water cannons, pepper spray and batons to disperse marchers after some attacked them with bottles and other objects.

The skirmishes came hours before the two-day gathering of the world’s top economic powers gets under way this morning in Germany’s second-biggest city.

Its host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said she hoped the leaders would be able to find “compromises and answers” on a wide range of issues – although the prospects of finding common ground on climate change and trade were uncertain.

Last night’s protest as the G20 leaders arrived in Hamburg was titled “G20: Welcome to Hell” and a stand-off between anti-capitalist protesters and police developed before the march itself got going.

Police said they repeatedly asked some demonstrators to remove their masks, to no avail. They then decided to separate the group from the rest of the march, which they estimated at 12,000 people in total.

Black-hooded protesters attacked a police vehicle with bottles and bricks, breaking its window.

Organisers quickly called an end to the march after the violence broke out, police said. Skirmishes continued, with police advancing down the street with two water cannons while being pelted with bottles.

A nearby building was plastered with the slogan “Borderless solidarity instead of nationalism: attack the G20”. A small group on the roof set off fireworks. Police said windows at a furniture store and a bank were damaged. There was no immediate word on a number of arrests or injuries.

In all, more than 100,000 protesters are expected in Hamburg for the summit, with 8,000 considered part of Europe’s violent left-wing scene, according to police.

The northern port city has boosted its police with reinforcements from around the country and has 20,000 officers on hand to patrol Hamburg’s streets, skies and waterways.

Ms Merkel said leaders would address regulating financial markets, fighting terrorism and pandemics and combating climate change, among other issues.

Picture: Getty Images. A water cannon is turned on protesters during the “Welcome to Hell” anti-G20 event in Hamburg.