8 Nov 2010

Police clash with protesters over nuclear waste train

6:14 am on 8 November 2010

Police in Germany have clashed with demonstrators opposed to the transport of more than a 100 tonnes of nuclear waste on a heavily guarded train.

The train is carrying the waste from France to an underground storage site in northern Germany and has been severely delayed since it set off on Saturday, the BBC reports.

Officers used batons, pepper spray, tear gas and water cannon to disperse about 250 activists trying to sabotage railway tracks on Sunday.

Police say activists hurled fireworks at officers and set a police vehicle on fire.

The clashes in northern Germany followed peaceful protests against the train on Saturday by tens of thousands of people.

Demonstrators say about a dozen people were injured.

Police gave no reports of injuries on their side.