GENEVA. The opening day of the G7 summit was overshadowed by violent clashes between police and protesters, raising serious questions about the adequacy of security arrangements for the gathering of world leaders. What was intended as a showcase of diplomatic unity descended into scenes of chaos outside the conference centre, with riot police deploying tear gas and water cannon to disperse crowds estimated at over 10,000.
The clashes began mid-afternoon when a splinter group of demonstrators broke away from a larger, largely peaceful march and attempted to breach the inner security cordon. Swiss federal police, reinforced by units from neighbouring cantons, responded with what witnesses described as disproportionate force. Tear gas canisters were fired indiscriminately into the crowd, and water cannon were used to clear streets near the venue. At least 15 protesters were reported injured, with three hospitalised. Police reported 12 officers treated for minor injuries, primarily from thrown objects.
The violence exposed significant lapses in security planning. The inner perimeter, designed to keep protesters at a distance of 500 metres from the summit venue, proved permeable. Intelligence reports had warned of potential disruption from militant anarchist groups, yet the police response appeared reactive rather than pre-emptive. Swiss Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter, who oversees security, acknowledged “shortcomings” in a hastily convened press conference. “We will conduct a full review of today’s events,” she said. “The safety of all participants remains our priority.”
The incident has overshadowed the summit’s substantive agenda, which includes discussions on climate finance, artificial intelligence regulation, and support for Ukraine. A planned working dinner was delayed by an hour as security forces struggled to restore order. Leaders were kept inside the fortified conference centre, with their movements restricted for several hours. Diplomatic sources confirmed that at least two bilateral meetings were cancelled.
Criticism has been swift. Human rights organisations condemned the police response as excessive. Amnesty International’s Europe director, Robert Fiddick, called for an independent inquiry. “The use of crowd-control weapons against largely peaceful protesters is a serious violation of international standards,” he said. The Swiss government, which prides itself on its humanitarian tradition, now faces a reputational challenge.
The G7 presidency, held by Italy this year, released a brief statement expressing “regret” over the clashes and reaffirming commitment to “peaceful protest”. But the damage to the summit’s carefully managed image is clear. For now, the focus shifts to whether leaders can salvage a productive agenda. But for many watching, the images of burning barricades and gas-masked police will define this summit as a moment of institutional fragility rather than international cooperation.
