Fire at the ECB Opening - Eiserner Steg

Sobre este lugar

Frankfurt's iron footbridge has linked the old town with Sachsenhausen since 1869, and from its middle you get one of the best views in the city: the bank towers to the west and, upriver to the east, the 185 metre glass twin tower of the European Central Bank. On 18 March 2015 that tower was officially opened, and Frankfurt saw its worst street violence in years. The Blockupy alliance had called for a blockade of the opening to protest the austerity policies of the euro crisis. From the early morning, barricades of tyres and bins burned in the Ostend district around the bank, at least seven police cars were set alight with Molotov cocktails, cobblestones flew and even firefighters and trams came under attack, and in one street alone 35 parked cars were badly damaged. Police used water cannons, batons and tear gas; more than 200 people were hurt, including at least 80 officers, and about 350 activists were detained near the bank. Inside, ECB President Mario Draghi conceded that his institution had become a focal point for those frustrated with this situation. By the afternoon the mood had changed: thousands rallied peacefully on the Römerberg, a few steps from this bridge, and around 17,000 marched through the city in the evening. Today the tower stands calmly on the skyline, and from this bridge you are looking straight at the scene of the walk's biggest case.

Datos clave

• 7 police cars — At least seven police cars were set alight with Molotov cocktails on the morning the new ECB tower opened, 18 March 2015.
• 200 people hurt — More than 200 people were injured that day, among them at least 80 police officers, and about 350 activists were detained near the bank.
• 1.3 billion euros — The final cost of the new ECB headquarters, far above the original estimate of 850 million euros.

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