Riots rock Hamburg over planned closure of culture center

The planned closure of a leftist culture center in Hamburg sparked bloody riots throughout the north German port city on Saturday, according to news reports.
Riots rock Hamburg over planned closure of culture center Violent street clashes erupted earlier in the day after police stopped a march of nearly 8,000 people protesting the planned closure of a popular culture center in Hamburgˈs Schanzenviertel district.

Armed with pepper spray, baton-wielding riot police were pelted with rocks,

bottles and fireworks, forcing them to use water-cannons to disperse the mostly black-clad radical leftist and anarchist rioters who tried to take up positions behind street barricades.

At least 22 police officers were injured in the escalating day-long riots, widely believed to be the worst in Hamburg in recent years.

It remained unclear how many demonstrators were injured in the street clashes.

Numerous window shops were smashed and several cars and garbage cans were set on fire.

Local city railway traffic was disrupted as a result of the riots.

Hamburg has been the scene of numeorus riots over the past years.