Hamburg, Germany (Reuters) — Protesters and police braced for another day of action on Friday (July 7) hours before the official start of the G20 summit in the German city of Hamburg.
Protesters are trying to make their way close to the summit venue where leaders from the world’s top economies will be gathering to try and bridge deep differences with United States President Donald Trump on climate change and trade.
The meeting in the port city of Hamburg comes at a time of tectonic shifts in the global geo-political landscape, with Trump’s “America First” policies pushing Europe and China closer together.
Dozens of police were injured in clashes on Thursday (July 6), tarnishing the start of a meeting Chancellor Angela Merkel hopes will cement her role as a stateswoman as she seeks re-election in September.
Protesters damaged cars, set other objects ablaze and threw bottles in roving clashes that lasted until midnight.
“Welcome to Hell” was the protesters’ greeting for Trump and other world leaders arriving for the two-day meeting.
