The demonstration ends even before it has begun. When the tip of the elevator has traveled nearly 20 meters, sprinting against 15.10 clock police forward, some of them sit still in running their helmets on. The officials stop the demonstration, push back the first ranks, immediately put batons. Then the situation escalates: From the demonstration flying bottles and stones, pyrotechnics whizzes through the air. Two water cannons before driving and without warning splash water in the first rows. The protest draws back, exploding firecrackers. The chaos is perfect.
A scene of devastation: The Schanzelviertel in Hamburg after the street battle. Photo: AP