Protesters Clash with Police Ahead of G7 Summit in Hiroshima (+Video)

Demonstrators held placards with messages such as 'No G7, no imperialist summit, no nuclear war, hands off Ukraine, no war on China.'

Hundreds of people gathered in Hiroshima as the Group of Seven (G7) leaders, led by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, discussed increasing sanctions on Russia, providing support to Ukraine, and addressing tensions with China.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was expected to attend the summit over the weekend.

In a joint statement, G7 leaders announced plans to broaden existing measures against Russia and restrict exports that could aid its war efforts in Ukraine. They also aimed to limit Russian revenues from the trade of metals and diamonds.

Protesters expressed their discontent with US President Joe Biden's presence in Hiroshima, with one stating, "Biden is in the land of Hiroshima and he's brought a button along to fire a nuclear missile, I cannot forgive him for this. He needs to apologize to the people in Hiroshima."

Hiroshima, the site of the summit, was devastated by a US nuclear attack 78 years ago, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians. The city has become a focal point for protests against the "imperialist summit," with police presence intensifying.

The demonstrators, including university students and relatives of atomic bomb victims, congregated near the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, where the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, also known as the Atomic Bomb Dome, is located. The park remained closed until the conclusion of the summit.

The G7 members, along with invited countries and international organizations, discussed various issues, including military alliances and the promotion of peace. The G7 summit excludes Russia since its exclusion in 2014 due to the Ukrainian crisis.