Shops looted as Gen Z protests in Germany turn violent
Clashes erupted in Frankfurt, Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg during demonstrations against the cost of living and public spending cuts.
Shops were looted and vandalised in Frankfurt as clashes broke out between rioters and police on Saturday, October 31, according to BBC News. The violence occurred during demonstrations organised by the campaign group Gen Z regelt to protest against the high cost of living, underfunding in schools, public spending cuts and compulsory military service.
In Frankfurt, rioters smashed shop windows and targeted emergency services with fireworks and Molotov cocktails. Police deployed special units and used water cannons to disperse the crowds, and a large section of the city's main shopping street was closed off. Authorities reported that a gun shop was attacked and two weapons were seized after a suspect was arrested.
Similar incidents of violence were reported in other German cities. In Berlin, a smaller evening demonstration resulted in 27 police officers being injured and up to 56 people being temporarily detained. In Cologne, officers were attacked near the main train station with bottles and a bicycle, while in Hamburg, 120 people were arrested after protesters set fire to barricades.
Hesse state Interior Minister Roman Poseck alleged that around 100 identified left-wing extremists had infiltrated the protest in Frankfurt. He described the conclusion of the protests as shameful. Gen Z regelt spokesperson Lina Friedrich said the demonstrations were intended to fight for peace and freedom, seeking better support for health and education systems.
Authorities in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin reported as many as 18,000 protesters, which was roughly half of the estimate provided by the organisers for those cities. German media reported that tens of thousands of people protested across the country on Saturday.