German cost-of-living protests followed by looting and clashes

Looters targeted shops in central Frankfurt and police reported clashes in several German cities on Saturday night, following largely peaceful demonstrations against high living costs, spending cuts and military service.

The unrest also affected Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg, according to a BBC report. Police said emergency workers were targeted with fireworks, stones and bottles, and that water cannon were used to disperse protesters.

The demonstrations were organised by the campaign group Gen Z regelt, meaning “Gen Z takes charge”. They coincided with another weekend of protests in France, where more than 320,000 people demonstrated over living costs and public services.

Shopfronts smashed in Frankfurt

Frankfurt police deployed special units after reporting violent unrest in the city centre. A large section of the main shopping street was closed off overnight, and a police spokesperson said numerous arrests were made.

Police said shop windows were smashed and Molotov cocktails were thrown at emergency services. Officers also reported damage to a gun shop’s windows and said they seized two weapons after arresting a suspect. Other shops were broken into, with items including trainers stolen.

The situation calmed overnight into Sunday, police said.

Hesse state interior minister Roman Poseck alleged that around 100 identified left-wing extremists had infiltrated the Frankfurt protest. On Sunday, Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt called for harsh punishments for rioters and looters in comments to Bild newspaper.

In Berlin, police said 27 officers were injured and up to 56 people were temporarily detained during a smaller evening demonstration that followed larger daytime protests. Cologne police reported attacks on officers near the main railway station, including bottles being thrown and a bicycle being launched.

In Hamburg, people dressed in black set off fireworks and burned barricades. Public broadcaster NDR reported 120 arrests.

Living costs and public services drive demonstrations

Authorities in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin reported up to 18,000 demonstrators, roughly half the organisers’ estimate. The daytime gatherings were largely peaceful.

Gen Z regelt spokesperson Lina Friedrich said the campaign wanted better support for healthcare and education, opposed compulsory military service and sought a fairer distribution of financial burdens.

In France, Saturday marked a third consecutive weekend of largely peaceful demonstrations across the country. Protesters demanded action on the cost of living and poor public services, particularly education.

The French interior ministry reported more than 770 arrests, roughly half the number recorded during the previous week’s protests. Officers used tear gas in some cities, while Paris police said several hundred rioters attacked security forces with projectiles.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said a police officer was injured by a Molotov cocktail. Prosecutors subsequently opened an attempted murder investigation.

Demonstrations also took place in Italy, with clashes reported in Rome and Turin. In Portugal, police moved to clear a tent camp established after thousands marched against a rental bill that protesters argue could worsen the housing crisis.

Although demands differed between countries, access to housing, education and public services remained recurring concerns in the demonstrations.