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Policemen carry away a protester as they close down the Occupy Camp in front of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, May 16, 2012.
German police have cleared out the Frankfurt Occupy tent camp which had been standing outside the European Central Bank (ECB) headquarters since October 2011.

The forceful eviction came Wednesday as part of security measures ahead of the four-day long 'Blockupy' demonstration in the city by activists angry at the way Europe's financial crisis has made life difficult for millions of ordinary people.

Police also made a dozen arrests as protesters started to throw paint at officers trying to clear a make-shift Occupy camp.

The clearance was completed when the last two protesters came down from trees they had climbed.

Police are already preparing for the rallies, setting up a cordon around the European Central Bank.

Global anti-capitalist movement began last year in New York with protesters calling for economic and social justice.