18,000 Protesters Turn Violent in Frankfurt as Looting Begins

Rioters looted shops in central Frankfurt late on Saturday after a mass protest over the cost of living turned violent. The unrest marked a sharp change from the largely peaceful demonstrations that had drawn thousands earlier in the day. Police in Frankfurt, along with forces in Berlin, Cologne, and Hamburg, reported clashes with protesters.

The demonstrations were organized by the campaign group Gen Z regelt, which translates to Gen Z takes charge. Participants gathered to protest against underfunding in schools, high living costs, public spending cuts, and military service. Authorities in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin reported as many as 18,000 protesters attending. This figure was roughly half of what the organizers had estimated on their website.

Violence erupted as night fell. A large section of Frankfurt's main shopping street was closed off by police. A police spokesperson said many arrests were made in the city. Frankfurt police stated on the social media platform X that violent riots were occurring in the city center. They reported that the windows of several shops had been smashed and molotov cocktails were thrown at emergency services.

In later updates, officials said the windows of a gun shop were smashed. Police seized two weapons after arresting a suspect in that incident. In other cities, police used water cannon to disperse protesters who targeted emergency workers with fireworks, stones, and bottles. The events followed similar youth-led mass protests in France, where more than 320,000 people demonstrated on Saturday.

Lina Friedrich, a spokesperson for Gen Z regelt, said the demonstrations were intended to fight for peace and freedom rather than for war and coercion. She stated that the group prioritizes better support for health and education systems. She added that the group is against compulsory military service and favors a fairer distribution of the burden.

Roman Poseck, the interior minister of Hesse state, said around 100 clearly identified left-wing extremists had infiltrated the protest in Frankfurt. He described the end of the protests as shameful. Poseck noted that France must not be held up as a model regarding looting, burning houses, and attacks on police officers. He referenced images from France involving looting and burning police vehicles.

The protests concluded with significant police presence in Frankfurt and other major cities. The campaign group Gen Z regelt had previously estimated higher attendance figures on its website. Local authorities continued to process the aftermath of the night's clashes.