A large section of the city’s main shopping street was cordoned off by security operatives, with police confirming that several arrests had been made
By Njoku Vincent
Violence erupted in several German cities on Saturday night as protesters demonstrating against the rising cost of living, public spending cuts and compulsory military service clashed with police, while shops were looted in Frankfurt.
The demonstrations, which were largely peaceful during the day, turned violent after nightfall in Frankfurt, Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg, prompting security operatives to deploy water cannon to disperse rioters.
Police said some protesters attacked emergency workers with fireworks, stones and bottles, while several shops had their windows smashed in Frankfurt, Germany’s financial hub.
According to AFP, a large section of the city’s main shopping street was cordoned off by security operatives, with police confirming that several arrests had been made.
The protests were organised by a youth campaign group, Gen Z regelt, meaning “Gen Z takes charge”, to demand improved funding for schools, affordable living conditions, an end to public spending cuts and opposition to compulsory military service.
Authorities in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin estimated that up to 18,000 people participated in the demonstrations, about half the number projected by organisers.
Speaking on behalf of the group, spokesperson Lina Friedrich said the movement was advocating peace, freedom and improved social welfare rather than war and coercion.
She called for increased support for the health and education sectors, alongside a fairer distribution of economic responsibilities.
In Frankfurt, police reported that protesters smashed the windows of several businesses and threw petrol bombs at emergency services.
Authorities also confirmed that the windows of a gun shop were broken, adding that two firearms were recovered following the arrest of a suspect.
Hesse State Interior Minister, Roman Poseck, alleged that about 100 identified left-wing extremists had infiltrated the Frankfurt demonstration.
He condemned the violence, warning against Germany experiencing unrest similar to recent protests in France, where more than 320,000 people demonstrated on Saturday.