Berlin: Police in Germany used water cannons and pepper spray against protesters after a demonstration organised by far-right groups in the western city of Cologne turned violent on Sunday.

A spokesman for the city's police said officers in riot gear were deployed to calm the situation after protesters threw bottles, stones and fireworks at them.

Nationalist gathering: People carrying German flags join a demonstration by "hooligans against Salafists and Islamic State extremists" in Cologne. Credit:Reuters

A police vehicle was also overturned by protesters.

Thirteen officers and one protester were injured in the clashes, police spokesman Andre Fassbender said. Six people were detained, but further arrests were likely to follow a review of video footage, he said.