Masked protestors protect themselves against a water cannon of the police Wednesday, March 18, 2015 in Frankfurt, Germany. The Blockupy activists try to blockade the new headquarters of the ECB to protest against government austerity and capitalism. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Police forces chase protestors who try to blockade the new headquarters of the ECB Wednesday, March 18, 2015 in Frankfurt, Germany, to protest against government austerity and capitalism. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Police chase demonstrators after they threw stones Wednesday, March 18, 2015 in Frankfurt, Germany. The Blockupy alliance said activists plan to try to blockade the new headquarters of the ECB to protest against government austerity and capitalism. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

A protestor empties a trash bin as smoke billows over burning barricades in front of the new ECB headquarters Wednesday, March 18, 2015 in Frankfurt, Germany. The Blockupy alliance said activists plan to try to blockade the new headquarters of the ECB to protest against government austerity and capitalism. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

A policeman holds a flare during a protest of members of 'Blockupy' anti-capitalist movement near the European Central Bank (ECB) building before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt

A resident extinguishes a burning barricade during a protest of members of 'Blockupy' anti-capitalist movement near the European Central Bank (ECB) building before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt

A barricade burns in front of policemen during a protest of members of 'Blockupy' anti-capitalist movement near the European Central Bank (ECB) building before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt

Policemen remove a road block set up by 'Blockupy' anti-capitalist protesters near the European Central Bank (ECB) building before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt

Fireworkers extinguish police vehicles set of fire by anti-capitalist 'Blockupy' protesters near the European Central Bank (ECB) building before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt

Fireworkers extinguish police vehicles set of fire by anti-capitalist 'Blockupy' protesters near the European Central Bank (ECB) building before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt

Firefighters extinguish flames in burning police cars that were set afire Wednesday, March 18, 2015 in Frankfurt, Germany. The Blockupy alliance said activists plan to try to blockade the new headquarters of the ECB to protest against government austerity and capitalism. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

A policeman looks on as German police cars, set on fire by anti-capitalist protesters, burn near the European Central Bank (ECB) building before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt

A German police officer who was hit by a paint bomb by anti-capitalist protesters looks at a burning police car near the European Central Bank (ECB) building hours before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt

A German police car that was set on fire by anti-capitalist protesters burns outside the European Central Bank (ECB) headquarters hours before the official opening of its new building in Frankfurt

German riot police officers remove a street blockade of anti-capitalist protesters near the European Central Bank (ECB) building hours before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt

Four German police cars set on fire by anti-capitalist protesters burn near the European Central Bank (ECB) building hours before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt

Three police cars were set alight and two officers injured as authorities confronted anti-austerity protesters trying to blockade the inauguration ceremony for the European Central Bank's new headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany.

Several thousand riot officers pursued what they said was a minority of violent activists as the bulk of protesters conducted themselves peacefully ahead of a rally in the city's main square. Some blocked bridges across the Main River and streets.

Police said one officer was injured by stones thrown near the city's Alte Oper opera house, several private vehicles were burned overnight, and two police cars were set on fire at a police station in the city centre. Another police vehicle smouldered a block from the ECB.

Hundreds of officers ringed the ECB headquarters ahead of the inauguration ceremony. Protesters are targeting the ECB because of the bank's role in supervising efforts to restrain spending and reduce debt in financially troubled countries such as Greece.

Expand Close A resident extinguishes a burning barricade during a protest of members of 'Blockupy' anti-capitalist movement near the European Central Bank (ECB) building before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt REUTERS / Facebook

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The Blockupy alliance says activists plan to blockade the new headquarters and disrupt what they term capitalist business as usual.

Some 10,000 people are expected for a rally in Frankfurt's main square, the Roemerberg. Organisers have chartered a special train bringing demonstrators from Berlin and are bringing in others from around Germany and other European countries.

Expand Close A policeman holds a flare during a protest of members of 'Blockupy' anti-capitalist movement near the European Central Bank (ECB) building before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt REUTERS / Facebook

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Whatsapp A policeman holds a flare during a protest of members of 'Blockupy' anti-capitalist movement near the European Central Bank (ECB) building before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt

Frankfurt police say most demonstrators are expected to be peaceful, but that violence-prone elements could use the crowds as cover. Participants include trade unions and Germany's Left Party.

The ECB, along with the European Commission and International Monetary Fund, is part of the so-called "troika" that monitors compliance with the conditions of bailout loans for Greece and other financially troubled countries in Europe.

Expand Close Fireworkers extinguish police vehicles set of fire by anti-capitalist 'Blockupy' protesters near the European Central Bank (ECB) building before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt REUTERS / Facebook

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Whatsapp Fireworkers extinguish police vehicles set of fire by anti-capitalist 'Blockupy' protesters near the European Central Bank (ECB) building before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt

Those conditions include spending cuts and reducing deficits, moves that are aimed at reducing debt but have also been blamed for high unemployment and slow growth.

Anti-austerity activists received a political boost when Greece's Syriza party won elections in January by campaigning against the bailout deal and its conditions, which they say has led to a "humanitarian crisis". Refusal of the conditions, however, has led to the withholding of further aid and the possibility of a chaotic debt default by the government.

Expand Close A German police officer who was hit by a paint bomb by anti-capitalist protesters looks at a burning police car near the European Central Bank (ECB) building hours before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt REUTERS / Facebook

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Whatsapp A German police officer who was hit by a paint bomb by anti-capitalist protesters looks at a burning police car near the European Central Bank (ECB) building hours before the official opening of its new headquarters in Frankfurt

ECB president Mario Draghi has called for more spending by governments that are in good financial shape, such as Germany - a call that has been mostly ignored by elected officials.

The ECB says it plans to be "fully operational" during the protest, although some employees may work from home.

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