Youth-led protests turn violent in German cities

FRANKFURT: Looting and violent clashes with police broke out in central Frankfurt late Saturday following large-scale demonstrations over the rising cost of living and cuts to public services. Although the protests remained largely peaceful during the day, tensions escalated after nightfall, leading to confrontations between demonstrators and security personnel.

Apart from Frankfurt, incidents of violence were reported in Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg. Police used water cannons to disperse protesters who allegedly attacked emergency responders and security personnel with fireworks, stones and bottles.

Thousands of people had earlier participated in demonstrations organised by the youth-led campaign group Gen Z regelt, which translates as “Gen Z takes charge”. The protesters raised concerns over inadequate funding for schools, increasing living costs, reductions in public spending and compulsory military service.

The demonstrations in Germany coincided with similar youth-led protests in France, where more than 320,000 people took to the streets on Saturday.

According to AFP, police cordoned off a large section of Frankfurt’s main shopping street following reports of unrest. A police spokesperson confirmed that numerous arrests had been made in the city.

Authorities in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin estimated that up to 18,000 people had participated in the demonstrations, approximately half the number projected by organisers. However, German media reported that tens of thousands of people had taken part in protests across the country.