The atmosphere was tense in Hamburg on Tuesday evening, July 4, as police and anti-G20 protesters faced off in the city centre.

Thousands of protesters gathered in parts of the St Pauli neighbourhood amid a heavy police presence, occupying sidewalks and street corners with stalls and banners in a show of protest against the upcoming G20 summit in the city.

Protesters and police already had their first stand-off two days ago over a protest camp in Entenwerder, where protesters reported scuffles and the use of pepper spray against them. Activists had erected a protest camp after a court ordered police to lift a ban on such camps. However, disputes arose when police prohibited protesters from spending the night in the camp. The decision over the overnight use of the camp has been referred back to the courts. Credit: Twitter/@pauli_pirat via Storyful