German police launched a series of raids on Tuesday against people suspected of rioting during the July G20 meeting in Hamburg.

The investigative criminal police forces (LKA) in several states raided 25 properties across Germany, police said. The raids took place in the states of Hamburg, Berlin, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg, Saxony-Anhalt, Rhineland-Palatinate and Lower Saxony.

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The raids were carried out under the auspices of a 170-member special commission that was formed in July after chaotic and violent scenes at the G20 by the so-called "Black Bloc" in Hamburg's district of Bahrenfeld. Investigators have spent the past six months combing through thousands of videos, images and surveillance images taken during the meetings.

Police actions on Tuesday involved 583 officers and targeted 22 different suspects.

Radical left targeted

In Hamburg, one of the raids reportedly targeted Deniz Ergün, a leader of the Roter Aufbau - a radical leftwing, anti-imperialist group that was implicated in the riots. Police confirmed that two of its targets were known gathering points for left wing radicals.

Oolice investigator Jan Hieber insisted they were making a distinction between the tens of thousands of people who demonstrated lawfully and those who planned criminal acts to disrupt the events.

Police said they had opened 678 investigations into people involved in July's incidents, 372 of which are known by name and 306 not yet identified. Some 113 police officers accused of misconduct in the G20 missions are also being investigated.

The raids were reportedly aimed at seizing evidence to be used in prosecution of suspected rioters.

Hamburg: G20 protests in pictures "Schanzenviertel" covered in debris 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.

Hamburg: G20 protests in pictures A night of devastation Police regained control over the streets of Hamburg in the early hours of the morning.

Hamburg: G20 protests in pictures Looting and rioting Several shops were looted and damaged during the first day of protests.

Hamburg: G20 protests in pictures Smoke bombs 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.

Hamburg: G20 protests in pictures Fires were lit and shops looted Fires were set in Hamburg streets and some cars were burned out.

Hamburg: G20 protests in pictures Burning barricades Protesters lit barricades on Friday evening. Throughout the city cars had been set on fire.

Hamburg: G20 protests in pictures Violence took over as night fell Cars were burned and barricades set alight as a violent mob stepped up its actions, sidelining the majority of mainly peaceful protesters.

Hamburg: G20 protests in pictures Black Bloc 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.

Hamburg: G20 protests in pictures Battle of G20 Hamburg Riot police disperse crowds with water cannon vehicles on Friday.

Hamburg: G20 protests in pictures Armored vehicles on the streets Police use water against a woman after she climbed on top of an armoured carrier on Friday.

Hamburg: G20 protests in pictures Chasing protesters Police chased protesters up a hill to gain control of the streets.

Hamburg: G20 protests in pictures War zone A picture published on social media shows smoke rising from the streets during protests on Friday.

Hamburg: G20 protests in pictures Children among those affected Violent protests turned several neighborhoods where children usually play into scenes from a warzone.



aw/msh (AFP, dpa)