Shops looted in Frankfurt as Gen Z protests in Germany turn violent
Clashes broke out in several German cities on Saturday as demonstrators protested against rising living costs and public spending cuts.
Demonstrations organised by the campaign group Gen Z regelt turned violent across several German cities, including Frankfurt, Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg, on Saturday, October 31. According to reports from Business Standard and the BBC, the protests began as largely peaceful gatherings against the high cost of living, funding cuts for public services and compulsory military service.
In Frankfurt, rioters smashed shop windows and looted various businesses, including a shoe store and a gun shop. Police reported that Molotov cocktails were thrown at emergency workers and two weapons were seized following the arrest of a suspect. Authorities cordoned off sections of the city's main shopping street, the Zeil, as special police units were deployed to manage the unrest.
Hesse state Interior Minister Roman Poseck alleged that approximately 100 identified left-wing extremists had infiltrated the demonstrations. He described the violent conclusion to the protests as shameful.
In Berlin, a smaller evening protest resulted in injuries to 27 police officers, while in Cologne, officers were attacked with bottles and a bicycle near the main railway station. In Hamburg, protesters reportedly set fire to barricades and used fireworks. Authorities in Berlin stated that up to 56 people were temporarily detained during the unrest.
The demonstrations in Germany coincided with youth-led protests across Europe. In France, more than 320,000 people participated in demonstrations regarding living costs and public services.