G7 summit: Protesters clash with police near UN in Geneva

Protests against the G7 summit turned violent in Geneva, Switzerland, as demonstrators clashed with police forces. The confrontations occurred near the United Nations building as the summit in Evian, France, was set to begin.

Small groups of protesters, many clad in black and with masked faces, hurled bottles, stones, cement fragments, and firecrackers at the police. Law enforcement responded by deploying tear gas to disperse the crowds. The unrest led to damage to several buildings, including those housing the audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) headquarters. Banks like Banque du Léman and Raiffeisen also reported damaged storefronts.

By Sunday evening, police estimated the total number of demonstrators at 20,000. Among them, approximately 600 were identified as belonging to the "Black Bloc," a protest tactic involving a unified, visible, and mobile group within demonstrations or civil disobedience actions. The clashes highlight the significant opposition faced by the G7 leaders as they convene for their summit.