Clashes erupt in Geneva ahead of G7 summit

GENEVA: Clashes erupted between protesters and police in Geneva on Sunday, including near the United Nations headquarters, a day before the G7 summit begins in nearby Evian, France. The demonstration initially started peacefully in the afternoon, with thousands of people marching through the city carrying banners reading “No to the G7 and all imperialist alliances!” and “Abort the G7”. Protesters voiced support for Palestinians, climate action, feminism and anti-capitalist causes. However, tensions escalated shortly after the march began when groups of masked demonstrators dressed in black broke through security barriers and vandalised property along the route. Protesters threw bottles, stones, chunks of concrete and firecrackers at police officers, who responded with tear gas and water cannons. Several buildings were targeted, including offices of the UN’s Inter­national Telecommunications Union and premises belonging to global consulting firm Pricew­ater­houseCoopers. Protesters were unable to approach the UN’s European headquarters, which was heavily protected by security forces and water cannon vehicles. Tens of thousands of protesters voice support for climate action, anti-imperialist causes Journalists inside the UN complex reported hearing explosions, police sirens and helicopters circling overhead throughout the unrest. Demonstrators later returned to a park on the shores of Lake Geneva, where further confrontations with police continued into the evening. Tesla car torched Vehicles were also damaged during the violence. AFP reporters witnessed a Tesla car being set on fire and spray-painted with the slogan “Eat the Rich”. Protesters chanted anti-police slogans, including “Down with the police state,” as clashes intensified. By around 7pm, police estimated that around 20,000 people had joined the demonstration, including about 600 members of the so-called “Black Bloc”, a loosely organised group associated with militant protest tactics. The unrest revived memo