Three police cars have been set alight and two officers injured as authorities confronted anti-austerity protesters trying to blockade the inauguration ceremony for the European Central Bank's new headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany.
Several thousand riot officers pursued what they said was a minority of violence-minded activists as the bulk of protesters conducted themselves peacefully ahead of a rally in the city's main square. Some blocked bridges across the Main River or streets.
Police said one officer was injured by stones thrown near the city's Alte Oper opera house, several private vehicles were burned overnight, and two police cars were set on fire at a police station in the city center. A third police vehicle smoldered a block from the ECB.
Up in flames: Three police cars were set alight and two officers injured as authorities confronted anti-austerity protesters trying to blockade the inauguration ceremony for the European Central Bank's new headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany.
No joke: Demonstrators dressed as clowns pass by a burning police car during this morning's protests in Frankfurt
CHAOS erupts in Frankfurt with protestors burning police cars
On fire: A police spokesman said one officer was injured by stones thrown near the city's Alte Oper opera house
Led away from the scene: Policemen detain a wounded anti-capitalist 'Blockupy' protester near the European Central Bank this morning
Burning: A police car burns after clashes between demonstrators and police officers in Frankfurt this morning
A German police car that was set on fire by anti-capitalist protesters is seen burning outside the new European Central Bank headquarters
Up in smoke: German police cars are seen on fire after being set alight by anti-capitalist protesters near the European Central Bank
Conflict: Masked demonstrators run past a burning police car after clashes between demonstrators and police this morning
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Smoke rises over the Frankfurt city skyline during a protest of members of 'Blockupy' anti-capitalist movement near the ECB building
Hundreds of officers ringed the ECB headquarters ahead of the inauguration ceremony. Protesters are targeting the ECB because of the bank's role in supervising efforts to restrain spending and reduce debt in financially troubled countries such as Greece.
The Blockupy alliance says activists plan to try to blockade the new headquarters and to disrupt what they term capitalist business as usual.
Some 10,000 people were expected for a rally in Frankfurt's main square, the Roemerberg. Organizers have chartered a special train bringing demonstrators from Berlin and are busing in others from around Germany and other European countries.
Frankfurt police say most demonstrators are expected to be peaceful, but that violence-prone elements could use the crowds as cover. Participants include trade unions and Germany's Left Party.
Terrifying: A police car is burning on the opening day of the new European Central Bank HQ in Frankfurt, Germany
Firefighters extinguish police vehicles that were set of fire by anti-capitalist 'Blockupy' protesters near the European Central Bank building
Making their move: Police chase demonstrators after they threw stones in Frankfurt. The Blockupy alliance said activists plan to try to blockade the new headquarters of the ECB to protest against government austerity and capitalism
Line-up: A man walks past a police cordon as cars burn on the opening day of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt
Activists march in a demonstration organized by the Blockupy movement to protest against the policies of the European Central Bank
Riot police clash with protesters dressed as clowns on the opening day of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt
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A protester holds a stone as water cannons of the police approach activists in Frankfurt this morning
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Riot police use water cannon during clashes with protesters on the opening day of the European Central Bank
Barricades burn in front of the new ECB headquarters in Frankfurt this morning. The Blockupy alliance said activists plan to try to blockade the new headquarters of the ECB to protest against government austerity and capitalism
The ECB, along with the European Commission and International Monetary Fund, is part of the so-called 'troika' that monitors compliance with the conditions of bailout loans for Greece and other financially troubled countries in Europe.
Those conditions include spending cuts and reducing deficits, moves that are aimed at reducing debt but have also been blamed for high unemployment and slow growth.
Anti-austerity activists received a political boost when Greece's Syriza party won elections there in January by campaigning against the bailout deal and its conditions, which they say has led to a 'humanitarian crisis.'
Refusal of the conditions, however, has led to the withholding of further aid and the possibility of a chaotic debt default by the government.
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Riot police form a cordon as a police car burns on the opening day of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt today
Riot police use water cannon during clashes with protesters on the opening day of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt
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Riot police use water cannon during clashes with protesters on the opening day of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt
A policeman stops a 'Blockupy' anti-capitalist protester near the European Central Bank this morning
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A photographers makes his way through a police cordon during riots in Frankfurt, western Germany today
A woman walks down the street as members of the local fire brigade attempt to put out a burning police car
Police clear up rubble on the opening day of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt
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Paving stones are seen on a road during a protest of members of 'Blockupy' anti-capitalist movement near the ECB building
ECB President Mario Draghi has called for more spending by governments that are in good financial shape, such as Germany - a call that has been mostly ignored by elected officials.
The ECB says it plans to be 'fully operational' during the protest, although some employees may work from home.
Yesterday police in Frankfurt put up barricades and barbed wire around the headquarters of the European Central Bank as they brace for demonstrations against government austerity and capitalism.
The Blockupy alliance said activists planned to blockade the new headquarters of the ECB ahead of today's ceremony inaugurating the building, and to disrupt what they term 'capitalist business as usual'.
Activists march in a demonstration organized by the Blockupy movement to protest against the policies of the European Central Bank
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Policemen prepare to confront protesters of 'Blockupy' anti-capitalist movement near the European Central Bank building
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A resident extinguishes a burning barricade during a protest of members of 'Blockupy' anti-capitalist movement
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Masked protestors protect themselves against a water cannon of the police in Frankfurt today
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Police forces chase protesters who try to blockade the new headquarters of the ECB in Frankfurt, Germany earlier today
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A policeman holds a flare during a protest of members of 'Blockupy' anti-capitalist movement near the European Central Bank in Frankfurt
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German policemen are seen through the heat haze of a burning barricade during a protest of members of 'Blockupy' anti-capitalist group
Beyond that, some 10,000 people were expected for a rally in Frankfurt's main square, the Roemerberg. Organizers chartered a special train bringing demonstrators from Berlin and are busing in others from around Germany and other European countries.
Frankfurt police had said most demonstrators are expected to be peaceful, but admitted violence-prone elements could use the crowds as cover.
The ECB is also influential as a provider of finance to the banks of struggling countries and has in recent weeks sanctioned a drip-feed of extra emergency finance to Greece's lenders.
The Greek finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, last week criticised ECB policy towards Athens as 'asphyxiating', a criticism also made by the protest organisers.
