Germany is bracing for its biggest May Day protests in years amid fears of a rise in social unrest caused by the worst recession since World War II in Europe's biggest economy.
Thousands of pacifists rallied in Germany on Sunday against plans to install a military training ground northwest of Berlin, marking the second day of the country's traditional Easter protest marches.
Three German NATO protesters have been given prison sentences of up to six months by a court in Strasbourg, a spokesperson from the German-French police centre in Kehl confirmed on Tuesday.
French police said Friday they made 300 arrests in clashes with demonstrators in Strasbourg ahead of a two-day NATO summit attended by 28 leaders including US President Barack Obama.
The French city of Strasbourg and neighbours Kehl and Baden Baden in Germany are bracing for turbulence as 25,000 police assemble to face huge protests during a NATO summit opening Friday.
A traditional Christian youth festival in Germany faced unprecedented disruptions by leftists who hacked the gathering's website, interrupted speeches and threw beer bottles at visitors, organizers said on Tuesday.
Some two dozen protesters were briefly arrested after trying to storm the Chinese consulate in Munich on Monday while demonstrating against recent violence in Tibet.