German Cost of Living Protests Turn Violent in Major Cities

Violence broke out in several German cities late Saturday after thousands of demonstrators took to the streets over rising living costs, education funding, public spending cuts and compulsory military service. Frankfurt experienced widespread shop damage and clashes with police, while Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg also reported unrest.

Police used water cannon to disperse demonstrators who allegedly attacked emergency workers with fireworks, stones and bottles. Authorities also reported looting, smashed storefronts and attacks targeting emergency services.

According to AFP, police closed a large section of Frankfurt's main shopping street following the disturbances. A police spokesperson confirmed that numerous arrests had been made in the city.

Authorities in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin estimated that as many as 18,000 people participated in the demonstrations. That figure was approximately half the number projected by organizers on their website.

The demonstrations were organized by Gen Z regelt, a campaign group whose name means "Gen Z takes charge." The movement's protests focused on concerns about education, healthcare, economic pressures and Germany's military service policies.

Group spokesperson Lina Friedrich described the campaign's position as a rejection of militarization and restrictions on individual freedoms.

"To fight for peace and freedom, rather than for war and coercion," said Lina Friedrich, spokesperson for Gen Z regelt.

Friedrich also outlined the group's priorities, emphasizing improvements to public services and opposition to compulsory military service.

"What matters most to us is better support for the health and education systems. We are against compulsory military service and we are in favor of a fairer distribution of the burden," said Friedrich.

Although most demonstrations remained peaceful during daylight hours, tensions escalated after nightfall. Frankfurt police announced on X that "violent riots" were taking place in the city center.

Police reported that several shop windows had been smashed and that Molotov cocktails had been thrown at emergency services. Subsequent updates confirmed that the windows of a gun shop had also been broken.

Authorities said they had seized two weapons after arresting a suspect in connection with the incident.

Roman Poseck, interior minister of Hesse state, where Frankfurt serves as the capital, accused left-wing extremists of infiltrating the demonstration.

"Around 100 clearly identified left-wing extremists," said Poseck, describing those he believed had entered the protest. He also condemned the outcome of the demonstrations.

Poseck called the developments "shameful" and warned against similar scenes occurring in Germany.

"We all have those images from France in our minds – looting, burning houses, burning police vehicles, and attacks on police officers... France must not be held up as a model in this regard," said Poseck.

The unrest follows large youth-led demonstrations in France, where more than 320,000 people also took part in protests on Saturday, highlighting growing public mobilization across Europe over economic and political concerns.