1/4
  • German police cars set on fire
    Four German police cars set on fire by anti-capitalist protesters burn near the European Central Bank (ECB) building hours before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt March 18, 2015.REUTERS
  • Blockupy' anti-capitalist protester
    A policeman stops a 'Blockupy' anti-capitalist protester near the European Central Bank (ECB) building before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt March 18, 2015.REUTERS
  • luxury car set on fire
    A luxury car that was set on fire by anti-capitalist protesters burns outside the European Central Bank (ECB) building hours before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt March 18, 2015.REUTERS
  • Fireworkers extinguish police vehicles
    Fireworkers extinguish police vehicles set of fire by anti-capitalist 'Blockupy' protesters near the European Central Bank (ECB) building before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt March 18, 2015.REUTERS

More than 150 people including 66 police officers were left with severe injuries when anti-capitalist protesters Blockupy clashed with the police near the new headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt on Wednesday.

Hours before the official opening of the ECB building, the anti-capitalist alliance of leftist groups gathered near the city's Alte Oper concert hall to protest against the policies of ECB. Their movement took violent turn, when the police urged the activists to step away from the bridge. However, the demonstrators started throwing stones at security forces and fire to barricades and cars.

The police deployed water cannons to disperse protesters after attacks on officers and fire-fighters. Seven police cars were set on fire while streets were blocked by burning stacks of tyres and rubbish bins, reported Reuters.

About 10,000 demonstrators were present at the rally.

"Our protest is against the ECB, as a member of the troika, that, despite the fact that it is not democratically elected, hinders the work of the Greek government. We want the austerity politics to end," Ulrich Wilken, one of the protest organisers told Reuters. "We want a loud but peaceful protest."

Also Read