Riots broke out in major cities across Europe this weekend after cost of living protests turned violent, with shops looted in Frankfurt and clashes reported in several German towns.
More than 184,000 people had joined mostly peaceful demonstrations in 34 German towns and cities earlier on Saturday as part of the Gen Z regelt ('Gen Z's got this') movement, calling for more funding for education, health, climate protection and help towards living costs. Protesters also spoke out against the country's plans to reintroduce limited military conscription for 18-year-old men.
Violence Erupts in Frankfurt
Several of these spiralled into riots by the evening, with remaining groups clashing with police before forcing entry into shops, smashing windows and looting goods. The worst of the violence unfolded in Frankfurt, where a perfume store, a sport clothing outlet and a gun shop were looted. One man was arrested by police with two stolen weapons, reported German media.
Some rioters threw Molotov cocktails at police after pummelling them with stones and bottles earlier in the day.
Clashes in Hamburg and Cologne
Scenes of disorder were also witnessed in Hamburg, where firefighters used water cannons to disperse crowds and put out a barricade ignited by rioters. In Cologne, around 500 demonstrators were surrounded by officers after they refused to leave the city centre.
Police had withdrawn permission for the protest after participants were seen wearing balaclavas and letting off fireworks, resulting in a stand-off outside the city's 13th century cathedral that ended in clashes, leaving at least one police officer injured. Five people were arrested.
Arrests in Berlin and Paris Unrest
In Berlin, 56 arrests were made at Rosenthaler Platz and nearly 30 officers reported injured after a police line was pelted with missiles by demonstrators, including glass bottles. Gen Z regelt spokesperson Lina Friedrich stressed that the protests were not violent in nature and had been organised "to fight for peace and freedom". She said: "What matters most to us is better support for the health and education systems. We are against compulsory military service and we are in favour of a fairer distribution of the burden."
In Paris, where violent demonstrations have entered a third weekend, protesters in Halloween costumes were seen throwing Molotov cocktails at police, resulting in one officer being rushed to hospital. Interior minister Laurent Nunez said the use of the DIY weapon amounted to "attempted murder" and vowed that any further disorder would be dealt with by police. Tear gas was used to break up protests across the French capital, with more than 40 stations on the city's underground network closed. Overnight curfews were put in place from 11pm to 6am in known trouble hotspots, with a separate dispersal order targeted at under-18s enforced on the Champs-Elysees.
Lisbon Protest Camp Cleared
In Portugal, riot police moved in to clear a tent camp in Lisbon's Rossio Square early this morning after protesters spent the night occupying the area to protest a controversial new housing bill, which critics say would make evictions easier and remove rent caps on new leases. Officers were seen detaining people as they dragged them away from the square.
