German rioters loot shops as 'Gen Z' demos turn ugly

Massive demonstrations organized by the campaign group Gen Z regelt turned violent across Germany on Saturday. While the protests initially began as largely peaceful gatherings regarding the high cost of living, masked rioters looted shops in central Frankfurt and clashes erupted with police. In Frankfurt, police closed off a large section of the main shopping street and made many arrests.

Incidents of violence were also reported in Berlin, Cologne, and Hamburg. Police used water cannons to disperse protesters who targeted emergency workers with stones, bottles, and fireworks, while some youths hurled Molotov cocktails. Authorities in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin reported approximately 18,000 protesters, though German media stated tens of thousands protested across various cities.

The demonstrations were organized to protest military service, public spending cuts, school underfunding, and the cost of living. Lina Friedrich, a spokesperson for Gen Z regelt, stated the demonstrations were intended to fight for peace and freedom and for better support for health.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Local Germany, MyJoyOnline Ghana, IOL — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.