German police, protesters clash after ‘Gen Z’ demos

German authorities and demonstrators clashed nationwide on Saturday following massive youth-led protests sparked by the Gen Z regelt! (Gen Z has got this!) movement. Police utilized water cannons and pepper spray against masked protesters who hurled fireworks, stones, and bottles. Several police officers sustained injuries due to the violent confrontations.

The demonstrations, inspired by similar movements in France and Italy, aimed to pressure political elites to address the concerns of younger generations, including issues like the high cost of living, poorly maintained schools, and military spending. While some protests remained peaceful, tensions escalated in the evening as certain groups refused to disperse.

Police reported several arrests and incidents of projectiles being thrown at emergency services. Despite the movement's explicit rejection of violence, incidents of stones and fireworks targeting emergency workers continued in cities like Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, and Leipzig.