Commenting on their new location, Hannah Eberle told RIA Novosti, “We are at the Sonnermanstrasse, there are 300-400 of us, we are in the excellent mood and are not going anywhere.”
“@NewsOnTheMin: Black smoke rises over Frankfurt, Germany, as ECB protests continue, many arrested. @DinamoPress pic.twitter.com/V3nOrNOzJ7”
— l4zick (@L4zick) March 18, 2015
It is unknown if anyone was injured as the result of the breakthrough, she added. There are several police helicopters at the protest site, and additional forces are arriving.
Frankfurt’s police told RIA Novosti on Wednesday they arrested 350 protesters who had started clashes with police ahead of Wednesday's ECB opening of its new high-rise headquarters.
Frankfurt — Smoke seen rising near ECB HQ pic.twitter.com/hdMp5Gg9dm #Blockupy
— Gregor Peter (@L0gg0l) March 18, 2015
The European Central Bank's (ECB) new building in Frankfurt will open at 11 a.m. local time (10:00 GMT) despite ongoing violent Blockupy protests, the RT news channel reported Wednesday, citing bank management.
Earlier in the day, police used tear gas to disperse members of Blockupy, the group's press service told RIA Novosti.
One of these pics is not like the others RT @rtenews: Clashes ahead of anti-ECB protest http://t.co/vAH4uyJgnd pic.twitter.com/gii2a7vVN9
— Graham Linehan (@Glinner) March 18, 2015
Clashes erupted in Frankfurt between Blockupy protesters and police on the day the European Central Bank headquarters open in the city.
Activists also blocked a central bridge over the river Main, as well as the Council roundabout path, a major transport artery in the east of the city.
#Frankfurt Carnival? No. Thousands of creative people fighting for your rights #Blockupy #18M p/v @global_project pic.twitter.com/LmcZecYlmR
— 15MBcn_int (@15MBcn_int) March 18, 2015
#Frankfurt #18M #Blockupy — 07: 47 westside Sonnemannstraße pic.twitter.com/qLjIxphPLZ
— Thomas Occupy (@ThomasOccupy) March 18, 2015
Thousands of people were expected to come to Frankfurt Wednesday to protest against a crisis situation in Europe they say has been created by the ECB, the EU and the IMF, and mainly enforced by the German government.
Clashes between demonstrators and police started early morning in response to Wednesday's ECB opening of its new high-rise headquarters in downtown Frankfurt. The police set a cordon around the new ECB building.
Germany — Severe rioting in Frankfurt, police set up roadblocks, use water cannons on day of ECB HQ opening pic.twitter.com/ey9XYSbRcg
— Gregor Peter (@L0gg0l) March 18, 2015
