ACTIVISTS clashed violently with riot cops in Germany setting cars ablaze, looting shops, throwing petrol bombs and trying to gatecrash the convention centre hosting the G20 talks.

Hundreds of extra police were drafted in to the streets of Hamburg in a bid to keep the increasingly violent protests by anti-globalisation rioters under control.

12 Protesters set dozens of barricades alight to seal off streets in Hamburg, Germany Credit: Getty Images

12 A shop is looted during anti-capitalist protests on the first day of the elite G20 summit Credit: Reuters

12 Looters use bricks, bottles and stones to smash their way into a high street store Credit: Reuters

12 German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned the violent protests as 'unacceptable' Credit: Reuters

But as these shocking images show the port's streets were once again turned into a burning battleground.

Around 200 police officers were injured, dozens of activists had to be taken to the hospital and more than 70 protesters were detained.

Many had to be taken to the hospital, including an officer whose eye was injured when a firework went off in front of him.

Thousands of officers in full riot gear patrolled as many as 30 different protest marches.

Most of the demonstrations were peaceful and creative, but some rioters threw petrol bombs, iron rods and cobble stones at cops.

As night fell, some lit fires in the streets of the city's Schanzenviertel neighbuorhood.

12 Around 200 police officers were injured during today's riots Credit: EPA

12 Thousands of protesters took part in clashes with police across the port city Credit: EPA

12 One rioter hurls a shop shelf towards riot cops in front of a devastated store Credit: Reuters

12 Leaders and their spouses pose for a group photo outside the Elbphilharmonie philharmonic concert hall Credit: Getty Images

Nearby thousands danced in the streets to techno music as the international leaders listened to a classical concert.

More than 20,000 officers were on hand to guard the Hamburg's streets, skies and waterways.

Police trucks blasted protesters with water cannons, and officers physically dragged away a group holding a sit-in at the entrance to the summit grounds.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned the violent protests as "unacceptable."

"I have every understanding for peaceful demonstrations," Merkel said.

"But violent demonstrations endanger human lives, they endanger people themselves, they put police officers and security forces in danger, put residents in danger, and so that is unacceptable."

Merkel thanked security forces for their work as the G20 met behind a heavy police presence in a no-go zone that was off-limits to most.

12 The German city has now been rocked by more than 48 hours of rioting Credit: DPA

12 A looter takes advantage of the chaos to raid the shelves of a local store Credit: Reuters

12 Not all of those protesting against the G20 summit were violent Credit: Reuters

12 More than 20,000 police officers are on duty in Hamburg this weekend Credit: Reuters

Protesters repeatedly tried pushing into the no-go zone among them a group of 22 swimmers from Greenpeace who tried accessing the area from the Elbe River but didn't succeed.

Activists also attempted to get near Hamburg's highly protected philharmonic hall, where international leaders were set to listen to a concert and have dinner together.

Police condemned the "shocking criminal energy and high potential of violence" on display.

The city's fire department said 11 activists were severely injured and taken to the hospital after falling off a four-meter-tall wall (13 feet) after fleeing from a confrontation with riot police.

MOST READ IN NEWS WINTER ON WAY Brits enjoy late summer sun as polar plume threatens earliest snow in century COVID CLAMPDOWN PM unveils huge £10k fines for Brits who break covid self-isolation rules Exclusive 'HE'S DEVASTATED' Kyle Walker 'furious' after fiancée admits to lockdown fling with toyboy SHORT SHARP LOCK Pubs & restaurants could shut completely within days in two-week lockdown COST OF COVID Rishi Sunak plans benefits freeze to pay for soaring cost of covid crisis LONDON LOCKDOWN Sadiq Khan warns London needs new lockdown by MONDAY with 10pm pub curfew

Police could not say how many activists were injured in the clashes, but the fire department said that as of Friday morning they had taken 60 protesters to hospitals across the city.

Kathleen Mueller, a 56-year-old protester from Potsdam near Berlin, criticised police for what she said were "brutal responses" to overwhelmingly peaceful demonstrations.

Mueller said she'd come to Hamburg to stop rampant consumerism and to tell leaders that "we need to ... rethink our economic systems."

She said she saw riot police wrenching apart a peaceful human chain and dragging people off.

"They didn't have to do that, there was no resistance, it was just to cause pain and it shouldn't happen," said Mueller, who was participating in a protest of some 300 people in a park near the summit grounds.