Hamburg: G20 protests in pictures

This part of town was the scene of escalating violence. That did not come as a surprise: The quarter is traditionally the hub of Hamburg's leftist activists. It has been subject to gentrification, turning into a "hip" place to live and magnet for tourists.

Police regained control over the streets of Hamburg in the early hours of the morning.

Several shops were looted and damaged during the first day of protests.

Black block protesters were throwing flares at police from behind street baracades. It took several hours for police to really push back in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Fires were set in Hamburg streets and some cars were burned out.

Protesters lit barricades on Friday evening. Throughout the city cars had been set on fire.

Cars were burned and barricades set alight as a violent mob stepped up its actions, sidelining the majority of mainly peaceful protesters.

Police blamed anarchists with the so-called Black Bloc movement for much of the violence. Black Bloc protesters wear all black and cover their faces to avoid being identified.

Riot police disperse crowds with water cannon vehicles on Friday.

Police use water against a woman after she climbed on top of an armoured carrier on Friday.

Police chased protesters up a hill to gain control of the streets.

A picture published on social media shows smoke rising from the streets during protests on Friday.

Violent protests turned several neighborhoods where children usually play into scenes from a warzone.