Key points:
-Violence broke out at the start of a demonstration against the inauguration of the new ECB building this morning. Representatives from demonstration organizers Blockupy tried to distance themselves from a violence at a press conference.
-Demonstrators are now marching peacefully under heavy police guard from the city hall (Römer) to Opera Square (Opernplatz).
-Police say they have charged 16 people with disturbing the peace or arson. 14 officers and 21 demonstrators have been hurt.
-Local schools have been closed, trams and the U5 train line are not running and Deutsche Post is not delivering mail.
-ECB president Mario Draghi insisted in his speech inaugurating the building that the ECB is part of the solution to the crisis, not a cause of the problem.
6:44 pm – demonstration leader Ulrich Wilke has officially announced the end of the march:
Versammlungsleiter Herr Dr. Wilken hat die Versammlung offiziell beendet #18M #blockupy #18nulldrei #Frankfurt
— Polizei Frankfurt (@Polizei_Ffm) March 18, 2015
6:35 pm – images from the conclusion of the march at Opernplatz (Opera Square):
Fin de la mani #18nulldrei #18M #blockupy #blockupyfrankfurt pic.twitter.com/H1i118XepI
— 15M Berlin (@acampadaberlin) March 18, 2015
6:28 pm – stones being thrown at police towards the end of the march route:
Massive Würfe mit Steinen auf Polizeibeamte in der Kaiserhofstraße in #Frankfurt #18M #18nulldrei #18null3 #blockupy
— Polizei Frankfurt (@Polizei_Ffm) March 18, 2015
6:14 pm – Even as the police begin tweeting public transport directions for demonstrators, some are still letting off flares:
Erneut Bengalos im hinteren Teil der Demonstration. #18M #18M #blockupy #18nulldrei #Frankfurt pic.twitter.com/XiUCioc2Po
— Polizei Frankfurt (@Polizei_Ffm) March 18, 2015
6:08 pm – an Italian participant documents the variety of demands being made by different marchers:
Anticapitalista-solidale-ambientalista-femminista:un Europa dofferente già si vede in queste strade #Blockupy pic.twitter.com/WahD1Ow74s
— DinamoPress (@DinamoPress) March 18, 2015
6:05 pm – police report that the number at the march has grown to 17,000. Some at the rear are setting off flares.
Teilnehmerzahl hat sich mittlerweile auf rund 17.000 erhöht. #18M #18nulldrei #18null3 #blockupy
— Polizei Frankfurt (@Polizei_Ffm) March 18, 2015
Im hinteren Teil werden Bengalos gezündet! #18M #18M #blockupy #18nulldrei #Frankfurt
— Polizei Frankfurt (@Polizei_Ffm) March 18, 2015
5:40 pm – a heavy police presence accompanying the march:
Unsere Kolleginnen und Kollegen begleiten den Aufzug #18M #Frankfurt #18nulldrei #18null3 #blockupy pic.twitter.com/IkIc1hmh0S
— Polizei Frankfurt (@Polizei_Ffm) March 18, 2015
5:02 pm – demonstrators will now march through central Frankfurt to the Opera square (Opernplatz):
#Blockupy Demo. Läuft. pic.twitter.com/1u7clnA8qm
— aaron (@bruckmiller) March 18, 2015
4:52 pm – Anti-globalization activist and author Naomi Klein tells the ECB "You aren't burning cars, you're burning away the planet."
1645 Naomi Klein bei #Blockupy an EZB: "Ihr verbrennt keine Autos, Ihr verbrennt den Planeten" #M18 pic.twitter.com/lPBGkUT97t
— Christian Albrecht (@chris_albrecht) March 18, 2015
4:36pm – "Anyone who abusively invokes civil rights must count on the full strength of the law," Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said of the violent outbursts this morning.
"The extent of the violence suggests that such actions had been planned for a long time," he added.
4:06 pm – Linke (Left) party deputy leader Sahra Wageknecht is addressing the crowd at Frankfurt town hall.
1604 Applaus für Sarah Wagenknecht (MdB, Linke) bei #Blockupy: "Europa darf nicht weiter von EZB regiert werden" #M18 pic.twitter.com/TtWAqp1MCQ
— Christian Albrecht (@chris_albrecht) March 18, 2015
She says that the protesters want a different Europe, accuses the German government of lying to the people (inverting Finance Minister Wolgang Schäuble's accusation that the Greek government lied to its people) and says Germany should be ashamed of rejecting Greek calls for Second World War reparations.
She also manages to get in a dig at the proposed TTIP free-trade agreement between the EU and USA.
3:44 pm – police now say there are 10,000 people at the city hall gathering:
Knapp 10.000 Menschen am #Römer in #Frankfurt besonders beeindruckend aus der Luft #18M #18nulldrei #blockupy pic.twitter.com/7BBl8WzTxq
— Polizei Frankfurt (@Polizei_Ffm) March 18, 2015
3:31 pm – Germany's Green party has come out in support of the Blockupy protesters, while condemning the violence that took place this morning.
"Protest against the policy of austerity in Europe is more than justified," party finance spokesman and MP Dr. Gerhard Schick wrote in a statement.
But he added that such protest "must leave no room for violence."
"The crisis policies until now have failed… the ECB should take this criticism to heart," he said.
But the ECB was only part of the problem – in fact, "A much greater problem is exactly the fact that the fight against the crisis is taking place almost exclusively at the ECB" rather than through a change of economic policy and increased investment.
"The protest should be in front of the Chancellor's office in Berlin rather than in front of the ECB in Frankfurt," he said.
"European governments are responsible for the forming and the stabilization of the European economy – and they've failed."
3:27 pm – Frankfurt police now reporting a fresh attack against firefighters:
Again attacks on fire department #Feuerwehr ! Concretely: On the fire station in #Frankfurt -Heddernheim! #EZB #Blockupy #18M #18nulldrei
— Polizei Frankfurt (@Polizei_Ffm) March 18, 2015
3:16 pm – Frankfurt police released fresh figures about injuries and arrests:
-14 police have been injured and 80 are back on duty after inhaling an irritant gas
-16 people were arrested by 2:30 pm, mostly on charges of disturbing the peace and arson after the police cars were set on fire.
3:02 pm – police say there are around 8,500 people gathered at the Römer city hall in Frankfurt. Left-wing activist and writer Naomi Klein will speak at 4 pm.
So… I'm in #Frankfurt, which is a little crazy right now. Will be speaking at the #Blockupy rally at 4. Strength in #s. come on out!
— Naomi Klein (@NaomiAKlein) March 18, 2015
Kundgebung auf dem #Römer in #Frankfurt läuft mit ca. 8500 Teilnehmern #EZB #18M #18nulldrei pic.twitter.com/TrndOeQ0Wq
— Polizei Frankfurt (@Polizei_Ffm) March 18, 2015
2:39 pm – Hessischer Rundfunk now reporting that Deutsche Bank and Deka-Bank are sending non-essential workers to work from home this afternoon.
2:35 pm – Firefighters say that since 5:50 am they've been called out 47 times to extinguish burning barricades, vehicles, police patrol cars and rubbish containers.
Seit heute früh 5:50 Uhr 47 Brandeinsätze. Es brannten Barrikaden, PKWs, Streifenwagen und Müllbehälter #Blockupy #m18 #18nulldrei
— Feuerwehr Frankfurt (@feuerwehrffm) March 18, 2015
They added that two firefighters were hurt by tear gas but were able to return to work after being treated by medics on the scene. One fire engine and one command vehicle had their windows smashed.
2:22 pm – demonstrators from the German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB) have gathered at the Frankfurt City Hall (Römer) and are filling the square.
Der DGB Aufzug ist mittlerweile am #Römer in @Stadt_FFM angekommen. Der Platz ist gut gefüllt. #18M #18nulldrei pic.twitter.com/13BS96p40t
— Polizei Frankfurt (@Polizei_Ffm) March 18, 2015
2:12 pm – Linke (Left) party leader Katja Kipping says that "Most people demonstrated peacefully.
"Unfortunately not everyone stuck to the consensus for the action. We want that to change.
"But we also want a different, a social policy in Europe."
Interview mit @katjakipping: "Die Mehrheit hat heute friedlich demonstriert." #Blockupy pic.twitter.com/1JvXe9zFt2
— Attac Deutschland (@Attacd) March 18, 2015
Meanwhile Police Union chairman Oliver Malchow said that "We can't assume that the wave of violence only took place this morning," in advance of further demonstrations this afternoon.
2:07 pm – Blockupy now says that 107 people were injured by pepper spray and tear gas and 21 with truncheons.
EA gibt erste Zahlen von verletzten Demonstrant*innen raus: 107 Verletzte durch Pfeffer und Tränengas und 21 durch Schlagstöcke. #18M
— Blockupy (@Blockupy) March 18, 2015
1:56 pm – Ulrich Wilken now says that Blockupy will do everything to ensure a peaceful demonstration on Wednesday afternoon.
1:20 pm – Representatives from Blockupy are holding a press conference and wanted to distance themselves from the violence earlier in the day.
"I want to say that this morning did not go as we had wished," said Ulrich Wilken from Blockupy. "This is not what we had planned… I understand the great outrage… but this is not how German demonstration culture should be."
Another Blockupy speaker, Christoph Kleine, said that it was not only police officers who were injured, but also protesters, by police.
"This day was no normal day for the ECB. They almost had to cancel the celebration," he added.
12:50 pm – Blockupy said they will hold a press conference at 1pm.
Live Stream of the #Blockupy Press conference at 13h: http://t.co/nDXaHwG184 #M18
— Blockupy (@Blockupy) March 18, 2015
12:45 pm – Frankfurt police post a video of protesters attacking police cars and throwing things.
Hier ein Video, das die Angriffe auf das 1.Polizeirevier #Frankfurt zeigt und selbsterklärend ist #18M #18nulldrei pic.twitter.com/cplhoqPFW4
— Polizei Frankfurt (@Polizei_Ffm) March 18, 2015
12:30 pm – Police report that they are confining another 100 people into a small area.
.@Polizei_Ffm Noch etwa 100 Personen zu kontrollieren.An die "Unterstützer"(im Bild): Bleibt ruhig! #18M #18nulldrei pic.twitter.com/xZHXodK1ce
— Polizei Frankfurt (@Polizei_Ffm) March 18, 2015
12:08 pm – meanwhile, demonstrators continue to rib the police on Twitter:
#Blockupy Police succesfully arrested some dangerous balloons #18M @Blockupy VIA @AktivistGrecko pic.twitter.com/f8SD40pHmM
— DinamoPress (@DinamoPress) March 18, 2015
12:07 pm – police are removing demonstrators from Uhlandstraße one by one – carrying them if necessary:
#Uhlandstraße Wir nehmen einzeln die Personalien auf: tragen weg, Foto,durchsuchen. Das dauert leider #18M #blockupy pic.twitter.com/FUB6wisQQh
— Polizei Frankfurt (@Polizei_Ffm) March 18, 2015
11:58 am – Frankfurt mayor Peter Feldmann addressed the foreign demonstrators present on the city's streets today:
“This is not your town. You hit the average people, the workers, the police and families. Criticism of capitalism is our tradition, it has always been, but it has to be peaceful.”
11:55 am – Frankfurt's streets are almost empty thanks to the ongoing demonstrations and blockades:
#Blockupy Die Frankfurter Innenstadt ist wie ausgestorben @tagesspiegel pic.twitter.com/2Yo9OYeV1g
— Carla Neuhaus (@carlaneuhaus) March 18, 2015
11:49 am – Meanwhile arrests are continuing on the streets outside:
In Frankfurt the police never arrested people doing pacific resistance, have you seen any? #blockupy #18M pic.twitter.com/haLLstl4wG
— 15MBcn_int (@15MBcn_int) March 18, 2015
11:47 am . Draghi concludes:
"This building is a credit to all those who have worked to bring it to fruition. It is a landmark for the city of Frankfurt. And it provides the ECB with an impressive new home to pursue its mandate.
"But it also stands as a powerful symbol of what European integration is about. It reminds us of where we have come from and where we have come to. Of the horrors that can happen when we split apart, and the huge steps forward we can make when we work together.
"So let us not undo what has been achieved. Let us not hanker for the past. Let us draw on the past to unite us in the present – to build a complete Union that can deliver the stability and prosperity we need.
"We as the central bank will do our part in this process by ensuring the integrity of our single currency. Our shared money is the most tangible sign of the trust we place in one another. As the ECB’s first President, Wim Duisenberg, put it at the launch of the euro more than 16 years ago:
"'A currency is far more than just a medium of exchange … A currency is also part of the identity of people. It reflects what they have in common, now and in the future.'"
Thank you for your attention.
See the full text of Draghi's speech here.
11:46 am – Draghi adds:
Draghi: Education, training need to be as much part of reform agenda as creating more flexible markets, reducing red tape
— ECB (@ecb) March 18, 2015
Draghi: Education, training need to be as much part of reform agenda as creating more flexible markets, reducing red tape
— ECB (@ecb) March 18, 2015
Draghi: Need to strengthen channels for genuine European democratic legitimacy, like the European Parliament
— ECB (@ecb) March 18, 2015
11:42 am – Draghi continues:
Draghi: Solidarity central to European integration, right that countries have supported each other during the crisis http://t.co/m04qFZn8Y3
— ECB (@ecb) March 18, 2015
Draghi: Euro area not a political union where some countries permanently pay for others
— ECB (@ecb) March 18, 2015
Draghi: Difficult period of adjustment in some countries was first and foremost consequence of their past decisions
— ECB (@ecb) March 18, 2015
Draghi: Renationalising economies not the answer; need ambition in our ends and pragmatism in our means
— ECB (@ecb) March 18, 2015
Draghi: Need to make progress in terms of economic and institutional convergence
— ECB (@ecb) March 18, 2015
11:38 am – Mario Draghi is now speaking, and attempting to defend the ECB to the protesters outside:
#Draghi to protesters: “This may not be a fair charge, our action has been aimed precisely at cushioning the shocks suffered by the economy"
— Maxime Sbaihi (@MxSba) March 18, 2015
11:16 am – Supporters of the new Greek Syriza government have also come to demonstrate against the ECB:
Auch viele griechische Syriza-Aktivisten sind in Frankfurt. #Blockupy #18M pic.twitter.com/lH58hBzXjQ
— Fabian Eberhard (@FabianEberhard) March 18, 2015
11:11 am – kettled Italian demonstrators are now sitting down to hinder police ID checks:
Police try to identify protesters and protesters organize a sit-in to make the process harder #Frankfurt #Blockupy pic.twitter.com/E1DRpzRQi2
— 15MBcn_int (@15MBcn_int) March 18, 2015
11:08 am – Current and former ECB presidents Mario Draghi and Jean-Claude Trichet have both arrived at the ECB:
Oberbürgermeister Peter Feldmann (SPD), Mario Draghi und Trichet sind pünktlich in der EZB zur Eröffnung eingetroffen. #blockupy #18m
— Journal Frankfurt (@journalffm) March 18, 2015
And Deutsche Post has cancelled deliveries because of the protests:
Zur Info: Die Deutsche Post stellt heute wegen #blockupy in Frankfurt keine Sendungen zu. #18m
— Journal Frankfurt (@journalffm) March 18, 2015
11:04 am – Several schools in Frankfurt have sent their pupils home because of the violence, the schools administration told Hessischer Rundfunk:
Wegen gewalttätiger Demonstrationen haben einige Schulen im Ostend ihre Schüler nach Hause geschickt. (Quelle: Schulamt) #blockupy #18M
— hr-online (@hronline) March 18, 2015
Meanwhile, a Blockupy spokesperson told the radio station that "we hope the content [of our message] doesn't get lost because certain situations have escalated":
Malte Fiedler, Sprecher von #Blockupy, in hr-iNFO: "Wir hoffen, dass Inhalte nicht verloren gehen, weil bestimmte Situationen eskalieren."
— hr-iNFO (@hrinfo) March 18, 2015
11:01 am – Demonstrators on the Hanauer Landstraße, one of the city's major arteries, are blocked by a police line:
#Blockupy Auf der Hanauer Landstr stehen die Demonstranten noch immer vor einer Wand von Polizisten @tagesspiegel pic.twitter.com/bVg4smFMK5
— Carla Neuhaus (@carlaneuhaus) March 18, 2015
10:57 am – Hessischer Rundfunk now reporting that demonstrators have set a police vehicle on fire with officers still inside:
1045 Demo-Beobachterin @jessybkk: "Gefilmt, wie #Blockupy-Aktivisten bemanntes(!) Polizeiauto in Brand setzten" #M18 pic.twitter.com/WhAq4WEYWC
— Christian Albrecht (@chris_albrecht) March 18, 2015
10:56 am – The east side of the ECB building is now peaceful and local people are beginning to clear up the mess, a Hessischer Rundfunk reporter says:
1043 EZB/Ostseite – Lage jetzt entspannt, Anwohner beginnen mit Aufräumarbeiten, ein Bild der Zerstörung #Blockupy pic.twitter.com/alXoIxGWNS
— Frank van Bebber (@Frank_vanBebber) March 18, 2015
10:55 am – The focus of demonstrations has now moved away from the ECB building and towards central Frankfurt:
Trommeln gegen kapitalismus und wasserwerfer. Hanauer ecke friedberger anlage. #Blockupy #ezb pic.twitter.com/hGAxDr03Gl
— Journal Frankfurt (@journalffm) March 18, 2015
10:49 am – the Pirate Party spots that water cannon have been brought in to Frankfurt from as far afield as Düsseldorf and Leipzig:
Wasserwerfer aus Düsseldorf und Leipzig. #Ostendstraße #Blockupy #Frankfurt /as pic.twitter.com/Tha8kdmEjv
— Piratenpartei (@Piratenpartei) March 18, 2015
10:44 am – Journal Frankfurt reports that pepper spray is still being used by police and shares images of continuing marches by demonstrators.
Zusammenstoss. Pfefferspray. Hanauer ecke uhland. #Blockupy #ezb #18M pic.twitter.com/ovHRc9zGnV
— Journal Frankfurt (@journalffm) March 18, 2015
Wasserwerfer an der hanauer. Aufgheizte anticapitalista-stimmung #ezb #Blockupy #18M pic.twitter.com/0AnIK6pNVb
— Journal Frankfurt (@journalffm) March 18, 2015
10:39 am – Guests for the ECB opening ceremony are now arriving by helicopter:
La BCE obligée de faire déposer ses invités en hélicoptère. Via @ThomasOccupy #Frankfurt #18M #Blockupy pic.twitter.com/JbBfaektdV
— Cyril Sauvageot (@CyrilSauvageot) March 18, 2015
10:36 am – One large group of protesters are now having their ID checked after being encircled for two hours:
#Blockupy #StrikeBCE #Frankfurt – blocco blu chiuso da due ore, adesso annunciano le identificazioni. pic.twitter.com/ybmOAnGY2l
— DinamoPress (@DinamoPress) March 18, 2015
10:20 am – Police are now clearing demonstrators off the Flößerbrücke bridge:
#Blockupy Die Polizei beginnt die Flößerbrücke zu räumen @tagesspiegel pic.twitter.com/4BFsIh6XAl
— Carla Neuhaus (@carlaneuhaus) March 18, 2015
10:18 am – Frankfurt police say that the situation at the ECB itself is "relaxed and violence-free":
Protest an der #EZB in #Frankfurt : Hier ist die Situation entspannt und gewaltfrei / #Blockupy #18M #18nulldrei pic.twitter.com/uJBfP3of6V
— Polizei Frankfurt (@Polizei_Ffm) March 18, 2015
10:16 am – Hessische Rundfunk reports that "Many demonstrators are disappointed. Some groups came from abroad just to start a fight.
"What's going on here on the street has nothing to do with political protest."
hr-iNFO-Reporter @FrankAngermund:"Viele #Blockupy-Aktivisten sind enttäuscht.Einige Blöcke kämen aus dem Ausland, nur um Krawall zu machen."
— hr-iNFO (@hrinfo) March 18, 2015
hr-iNFO-Reporter @FrankAngermund: "Was hier auf den Straßen los ist, hat nichts mehr mit politischem Protest zu tun." #Blockupy #M18 #18M
— hr-iNFO (@hrinfo) March 18, 2015
10:12 am – Demonstrators have scaled a skyscraper and unfurled a banner reading "Capitalism Kills".
@15MBcn_int #Frankfurt #ECB #EZB – #Blockupy #M18 #18M – "Capitalism kills" via @eltom Kapitalismus tötet. pic.twitter.com/c39Mq3IO94
— Muschelschloss ☕ ️ (@Muschelschloss) March 18, 2015
10:08 am – Frankfurt police say demonstrators are infringing the "distance zone" around the ECB building.
An der #EZB wird die #Distanzzone immer wieder betreten. Hört auf die Durchsagen unserer Lautsprecherwagen #18nulldrei #18null3 #blockupy
— Polizei Frankfurt (@Polizei_Ffm) March 18, 2015
10.05 am A protester, Peter Krabowski, told The Local from the vicinity of the ECB building: “The police are using a lot of tear gas. Whenever the demonstrators get too close to the ECB building then the police push them back with tear gas.”
“There are cars burning barricades burning.. there is a lot of actions from both sides.”
Blue block has been blocked and attack by the police with pepper spray #blockupy #strikebce pic.twitter.com/cJesnosudT
— DinamoPress (@DinamoPress) March 18, 2015
He added that the police seem to have developed a new way of firing the tear gas which means that the substance is being spread over a very large area.
Referring to the violence of certain protesters, he said "disappointed is too strong a word. I can't judge their actions, although I choose to demonstrate in a different way. I don't feel limited by what they do."
The demonstrators have come from across Europe, Krabowski said. “This is a good thing. It shows solidarity.”
Explaining his reasons for participating, Krabowski had earlier told The Local: "It's an important opportunity to criticize the financial policies within the Eurozone, as symbolized by the ECB, and to make it public that there are alternatives to the current model."
10:01 am – anti-globalization group Attac tweets a photo of the "ECB fortress on the [river] Main" – with police boats, water cannon and helicopters.
Die #EZB-Festung am Main. Polizei zu Wasser, mit Wasserwerfern am Boden + mit Hubschraubern in der Luft. #Blockupy pic.twitter.com/uOCOD3JlyJ
— Attac Deutschland (@Attacd) March 18, 2015
9:58 am – Justice Minister Heiko Maas has taken to Twitter to criticize the violence.
"Whoever misuses the right to demonstrate will feel the full toughness of the law," he said. "Violence against the police is never justified."
Wer Demonstrationsrecht missbraucht, wird die ganze Härte des Gesetzes spüren. Gewalt gg Polizei ist durch nichts gerechtfertigt #Blockupy
— Heiko Maas (@HeikoMaas) March 18, 2015
He added a few minutes later that "Everyone has the right to criticize institutions like the ECB. Pure rampaging crosses all boundaries in the political battle of ideas."
Jeder hat Recht Institutionen wie die EZB zu kritisieren.Pure Randale überschreitet aber alle Grenzen im politischen Meinungskampf #blockupy
— Heiko Maas (@HeikoMaas) March 18, 2015
9:52 am – Police say they have arrested around 350 people who committed crimes around the Blockupy demonstration.
We detained about 350 persons who were committing crimes and rioted in #Frankfurt #EZB #18M #18nulldrei #Blockupy
— Polizei Frankfurt (@Polizei_Ffm) March 18, 2015
9:20 am – The Minister for Europe, Michael Roth, said on Twitter that he was "appalled" by Blockupy. "The ECB helps EU member states to overcome the crisis! [It is] neither the enemy nor justification for violence," he tweeted.
I am appalled about #Blockupy! #ECB helps #EU-Member States to overcome the crisis! Neither the enemy nor justification for violence.
— Michael Roth MdB (@MiRo_SPD) March 18, 2015
9:15 am – Scenes directly in front of the ECB were tranquil, Frankfurt police reported on Twitter, saying "a protest can also look like this. Everything OK here."
Auch so kann Protest vor der #EZB in #Frankfurt aussehen. Hier alles okay / #Blockupy #18M #18nulldrei pic.twitter.com/3J2nzgHl4i
— Polizei Frankfurt (@Polizei_Ffm) March 18, 2015
Things were calming down elsewhere in the city too.
Frankfurter Impressionen 4 #M18 #18M pic.twitter.com/eLJRkRvaop
— Danijel Majic (@DanijelMajic) March 18, 2015
8:37 am – “The atmosphere is aggressive,” said police spokeswoman Claudia Rogalski. But she added that the police were prepared to deal with the violence.
“We said right from the start that we were expecting violence, and our plans are naturally built around this eventuality. We are in the city with the necessary manpower.”
In the vicinity of the old opera house in the city centre, demonstrators attacked the police with stones; at least one police officer was injured.
Police patrols were attacked in several other locations.
According to the police, the demonstrators blocked a bridge over the river Main and the Ratswegskreisel, an important junction in the east of the city.
In the vicinity of the new European Central Bank (ECB) headquarters in the east of the city, a police car was set on fire. Suspected demonstrators were seen running away.
In several locations, rubbish containers were set alight. In west Frankfurt, several cars had already been set on fire on Tuesday night.
And the Frankfurt fire service said on Twitter that their colleagues were under attack.
Our firefighters are being attacked. Please stop doing that! #Blockupy #18m #m18 #18nulldrei
— Feuerwehr Frankfurt (@feuerwehrffm) March 18, 2015
In front of the ECB headquarters a silent vigil began early on Wednesday morning. Demonstrators are reporting that the police used tear gas.
A spokesperson for Blockupy claimed to know nothing about attacks on police.
Later on Wednesday morning, the ECB's new building is to be officially opened, although it has been in use for several months.
The police are assuming that at least 10,000 demonstrators against the Eurozone's austerity policies will show up.
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