THE DOMINO'S EFFECT
G20 protests are no match for Domino’s Pizza delivery driver who weaves among rioters on his motorcycle
The motorist can be seen driving through the crowds who were demonstrating against the summit in Hamburg
A DOMINO'S pizza delivery driver has been filmed weaving among rioters at the G20 protests in Germany.
The unfazed motorist can be seen driving through the crowds who were demonstrating against the summit in Hamburg.
39
39
39
On Friday, water cannons were fired at protesters who had made a blockade ahead of the summit.
Police said the incident happened on the banks of the Outer Alster lake, some distance from the trade fair grounds in Hamburg on Friday morning.
They added that they repeatedly told a group of protesters to clear the road ahead of the start of the global summit.
Shocking footage showed marching anarchists defacing property and throwing flares into parked cars in order to start blazes on residential streets.
It has also been reported that a police station has been firebombed in the German city.
Early on in the day - firecrackers were shot at a police helicopter but missed.
German police confirmed the building had been targeted by "perpetrators of violence".
A police spokesman said the number of police officers injured so far in running battles with demonstrators late Thursday and overnight has risen to 159 with 45 arrests.
German newspaper has reported that "left-wing extremists from France, Switzerland and the Netherlands" are among those who have been arrested.
One had to be taken to a hospital with an eye injury after a firework exploded in front of him.
39
39
39
39
39
39
39
39
The city has boosted its police with reinforcements from around the country and has 20,000 officers on hand to patrol Hamburg's streets, skies and waterways.
All leaders managed to make it safely to the city's convention centre where the summit is taking place with police confirming that no protesters were able to push into the no-go zone which surrounded it.
As a result of the protests, Donald Trump's wife, Melania Trump was unable to leave her residence which meant she missed out on a trip with fellow spouses.
Stephanie Grisham, Melania’s spokeswoman, said Hamburg police haven’t cleared the first lady to leave the government guest house where she and President Trump spent the night because of the protesters.
On Thursday, riot police fired water cannons and pepper spray at far-left activists after cops were pelted with rocks and flares during the "Welcome to Hell" rally in Hamburg.
Around 12,000 took to the streets to protest against globalisation as world leaders including Donald Trump and Xi Jinping arrived in the city ahead of the summit.
Cops clashed with black-hooded protesters after they attacked a police vehicle with bottles and bricks, breaking its window.
Violence broke out near the start of the demonstration at a riverside plaza used for Hamburg’s weekly fish market.
Marchers chanted and waved banners during a stand-off that lasted around 40 minutes.
39
39
39
39
39
39
39
39
39
Cops were attacked with bottles and stones by some marchers after they asked a group of demonstrators to remove their masks.
Organisers quickly called an end to the march after the violence broke out, police said.
But skirmishes continued, with police advancing down the street with two water cannons while being pelted with bottles.
A nearby building was plastered with the slogan "Borderless solidarity instead of nationalism: attack the G-20."
Another read: "G20 not welcome."
A small group on the roof set off fireworks and others were seen lighting flares.
Police said windows at a furniture store and a bank were damaged.
There was no immediate word on a number of arrests or injuries.
In all, more than 100,000 protesters are expected in Hamburg for the summit, with some 8,000 considered part of Europe's violent left-wing scene, according to police.
39
39
39
39
39
The northern port city has boosted its police with reinforcements from around the country and has 20,000 officers on hand to patrol Hamburg's streets, skies and waterways.
Merkel is also hoping to keep things under control inside the city congress centre where the summit is being held.
With guests including Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the search for compromises is expected to be challenging.
Merkel said leaders would address regulating financial markets, fighting terrorism and pandemics and combatting climate change, among other issues.
39
39
She said "free, rule-based and fair trade" will be an important issue.
"You can imagine that there will be discussions that will not be easy," she said. "Globalization can be a win-win situation. It must not always be that there are winners and losers."
It came one day after hundreds of activists dressed up like zombies to protest against the G20 summit.
The streets of Hamburg looked like a scene from Night of the Living Dead on Wednesday as protesters covered in grey clay shuffled through the city centre in a trance-like state.
39
39
39
Once they assembled in a central square, the activists ripped off their outer grey coverings to reveal naked bodies or colourful clothing.
The peaceful left-wing protest was intended to make a powerful statement just as world leaders including Donald Trump arrived at the German city.
"We are calling on the world to make Hamburg a focal point of the resistance against the old and new capitalist authorities," said the organisers.
Catalina Lopez, one of the organisers, told Reuters TV: "The goal of our performance today is to move the people in their hearts, to give them the motivation to get politically engaged again.
"We want to create an image, because we believe in the power of images...we want to motivate people to take part.
"To free themselves from their crusted shells, to take part in the political process."
39
39
39
39
The “Welcome to Hell” demonstration, organised by the collective 1,000 Gestalten (1,000 Figures), is one of dozens of protests expected to take place.
In the weeks leading up to the summit, police cars have been burned and train lines have been sabotaged.
Authorities in Hamburg and the nearby city of Rostock have confiscated improvised weapons such as fire-extinguishers filled with flammable liquid, baseball bats and other items in several raids.
MOST READ IN NEWS
"We have to assume that this is only a tiny percentage of what is still in basements and garages in and around Hamburg," Hamburg police criminal director Jan Hieber told reporters this week.
In a preview of things likely to come, police clashed in Hamburg with hundreds of protesters Tuesday night, using pepper spray and water cannons to eventually bring the crowd under control.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told community organizers in Hamburg that she understood the importance of demonstrations to express criticism and concerns, but urged them to remain non-violent.
“It should be peaceful criticism,” she said in June.
39
39
39
39
39