Thousands of anti-capitalist protesters expected at German austerity demonstration

In this Aug. 27, 2012 file photo the new headquarter of the European Central Bank rises behind barbed wire in Frankfurt, German. The European Central Bank says the continent's financial system remains fragile and exposed to risks, including a downturn in markets as well as trouble among banks as they face more bad loans in a weak economy. (AP)

FILE - In this May 2, 2013 file photo the new headquarters of the European Central Bank is under construction in Frankfurt, Germany. The European Central Bank says the continent's financial system remains fragile and exposed to risks, including a downturn in markets as well as trouble among banks as they face more bad loans in a weak economy. The ECB's latest financial stability review said Wednesday, May 29, 2013, that the weakening of the banking sector threatens to cause a flare-up in the 17country eurozone's three and a half year crisis over too much government debt. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File) (The Associated Press)

Police in Germany's financial capital, Frankfurt, have put up metal barricades around the European Central Bank a day ahead of anti-capitalist protests expected to draw several thousand people.

Members of the Blockupy group say they will try to prevent employees from reaching the ECB for several hours Friday to underline their opposition to what they say is the bank's role in enforcing government spending cutbacks as a way of dealing with the eurozone's crisis over too much government debt.

A second demonstration is planned at Deutsche Bank's headquarters nearby.

Several hundred demonstrators had assembled by Thursday afternoon at a tent camp in a park several miles (kilometers) from Frankfurt's downtown financial district.

The ECB says it will remain operational and has taken steps to ensure employee safety.

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