Protestors block streets to European Central Bank in Germany in protests over austerity

Anti-capitalist protesters blocked streets leading to the European Central Bank in Germany in protests over austerity cutbacks.

Members of the Blockupy alliance linked arms for several hours on the streets leading to the bank in Frankfurt. Some demonstrators grabbed and shook the metal police barricades surrounding the bank.

Police brought out a truck with a water cannon but it was not used. One officer used pepper spray while being confronted by demonstrators at a barricade.

A spokesman for the ECB said the bank remained in operation. Police said they had assisted some employees in getting to the building.

Blockupy said it wanted to underline what it says is the ECB's role in promoting austerity cutbacks.

Police reported no arrests and estimated the number of demonstrators at between 1,000 and 1,500. Organisers said there were more than 3,000.

After the ECB demonstration, several hundred protesters moved to Deutsche Bank's headquarters.

Spokesman Roland Suess said the demonstration was a success. He said: "We wanted to blockade the ECB and we did that with more than 3,000 people."

AP