Germany prepares for bank protests FRANKFURT, Germany, May 16 (UPI) -- Police cleared a protest camp set up in Germany's financial center Wednesday following a court ruling evicting the demonstrators, authorities said. Some 40 groups were gathering in the area surrounding the euro sign in front of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt to protest the power of banks, The Local.de reported. The protest was supposed to kick off Thursday, a bank holiday, with demonstrators occupying central squares and blockading the ECB. Fear of violence rose during the early part of the week, The Local said. A court disallowed many of the planned demonstrations but it granted permission for a Saturday rally. Metro stations were closed Tuesday evening because of the protesters while the German Central Bank confirmed it held a meeting of ECB executives a day early to avoid trouble. Frankfurt police advised bankers not to wear suits to work beginning Wednesday.