国际英语新闻:88 police injured, more than 500 arrested in Frankfurt's anti-austerity protest

FRANKFURT/BERLIN, March 18 (Xinhua)-- At least 88 policemen were injured and more than 500 people were arrested after anti-austerity protests in Frankfurt turned into clashes between protesters and police on Wednesday, local media reported.

Eight police officers were injured by stone-throwing, while another 80 by a corrosive liquid or irritant gas, Focus online quoted a police spokeswomen as saying.

Police are vigilant and further attacks of violent protesters are expected, according to the spokeswoman.

According to police spokesman Erler, about 10,000 demonstrators took to the street in the German financial capital on Wednesday. Among them, thousands came from other parts of Europe.

So far, at least seven police cars have been burned, Erler said.

According to a spokesman for the protesters, many protesters were injured by water cannons, tear gas and police batons.

A witness told Xinhua that the windows of his car were smashed and he managed to left the scene at the escort of the police.

Heavy security personnel deployment has been put in place.

The ECB is scheduled to officially open its new office building in Frankfurt on Wednesday, which is a 185-meter tall skyscraper and cost 1.3 billion euros (about 1.38 billion U.S. dollars).

The bank, along with the European Commission and International Monetary Fund, is part of the so-called "troika" that monitors compliance with the conditions of bailout loans for Greece and other financially troubled countries in Europe.

Those conditions are aimed at reducing debt but have also been blamed for high unemployment and slow growth.