German police detain protesters after anti-G8 raids

BERLIN, May 10 (Reuters) Police in the German cities of Hamburg and Berlin detained at least 13 people after demonstrations overnight that followed a series of raids on anti-globalisation militants, authorities said today.

Some 900 anti-terrorism officers raided properties across northern Germany on Wednesday as part of investigations into left-wingers planning to disrupt the G8 summit on the Baltic Coast in June.

At least nine people were held in Hamburg after police and demonstrators clashed outside a cultural centre after a rally attended by almost 2,000 people. Police used water cannon and three officers were injured as protesters threw stones.

Four protesters were detained in the German capital Berlin after some 3,000 people took part in a largely peaceful demonstration against the raids.

Police suspect the groups are planning to ''found a terrorist organisation'' that could carry out arson attacks or other actions to severely disrupt or prevent the summit in Heiligendamm on the Baltic coast.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will host the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States at the June 6-8 summit, which will focus on climate change, African poverty and economic cooperation.

The raids confirmed police suspicions that anti-globalisation militants were planning some form of disruption to coincide with the summit, the chairman of the German union of police officers told Reuters today.

''Now the evidence has become clearer that terror attacks may also be possible,'' union chairman Konrad Freiberg said.

Politicians warned against overreaction.

''Organised violence is something that must be taken very seriously but it is not like we are on the brink of a revolution in Germany,'' said Social Democrat (SPD) parliamentarian Dieter Wiefelspuetz in an interview with German radio.

REUTERS DS VV1938