Swiss police use tear gas against anti-G7 protesters in Geneva

Key facts

• Swiss police fired tear gas at protesters demonstrating against the G7 summit.
• Demonstrators targeted United Nations buildings in Geneva, throwing stones and flares.
• A Tesla vehicle was set on fire and windows were smashed.
• An estimated 7,000 to 20,000 people participated in the anti-G7 march.
• The G7 summit is scheduled to take place in nearby France.

Swiss police deployed tear gas and protesters threw projectiles, including stones and flares, at United Nations buildings in Geneva on Sunday during a demonstration against the G7 summit scheduled to take place in nearby France. The clashes occurred as thousands of people marched through the city to express discontent with the group of wealthy nations.

Demonstrators, including environmentalists, feminists, and anti-imperialist groups, gathered in a lakeside park for the march. Some protesters smashed the windows of a bank and set a car on fire. Police responded with tear gas to projectiles being thrown at them. An estimated 7,000 to 20,000 people participated in the march, according to police and organizers, respectively.

Authorities on both the Swiss and French sides have deployed thousands of police officers to ensure security for the three-day summit. Roadways have been blocked, unauthorized gatherings banned, and businesses have boarded up storefronts as a precaution, recalling damage from a similar summit in Evian in 2003. The G7 leaders are expected to discuss issues including the Middle East, Ukraine, and global economic imbalances.