German police arrest a May Day protestor in Friedrichshain early this morning. Image: AP.
Police in Berlin arrested 68 people early this morning as violence broke out ahead of May Day celebrations.
A police spokeswoman said those detained for the violence in the eastern district of Friedrichshain were generally drunken youths.
Police are preparing for further clashes on the national Labour Day holiday, marked by a May Day parade and celebrations attended by tens of thousands of people.
Berlin has faced May Day violence every year since 1987. In recent years luxury cars were tipped over and set on fire, while anarchists hurled stones and bottles at police.
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In an attempt to prevent or limit the violence in the German capital, some 5,000 riot police will be on duty today.