Youth protests in Germany escalated into riots: rampage in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne and Berlin

From peaceful marches to riots

On Saturday, October 31, youth demonstrations took place in more than 30 German cities, linked to the rising cost of living and other social demands. Most of the actions ended peacefully, but after nightfall riots broke out in a number of cities: shop windows were smashed, stores were looted, burning barricades were built, and police used water cannons. The most tense situation developed in Frankfurt am Main, Cologne, Hamburg and Berlin — this was reported by euronews citing police data.

What happened in each city

In Berlin, a demonstration under the slogan 'Generation Z will not tolerate this anymore!' began at Rosenthaler Platz and headed into the Prenzlauer Berg district. According to police, the number of participants grew from 700 to 3,500; the action mixed pro-Palestinian and anti-fascist symbolism, with anti-capitalist, anti-Israeli and anti-German slogans chanted. After stones were thrown at police and fireworks were set off, the demonstration was ended early. The police tally: 56 people temporarily detained, 27 officers slightly injured, and about 1,500 additional officers deployed across the city. The English-language version of the same outlet, euronews, speaks of 'almost 60' detainees — the figures differ, but both originate from the Berlin police.

Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne

In Hamburg in the evening, near the main railway station and especially in the St. Georg district, rioters built burning barricades and threw stones, bottles and fireworks at police. A toppled battery of fireworks injured a child (hospitalization was not required) and a female police officer; another federal officer was injured by a firecracker. Police used pepper spray and water cannons, about 120 people were temporarily detained, and roughly 1,300 officers took part in the operation. Police spokesman Sebastian Born said the hooligans' behavior confirmed the correctness of the decision to deploy a large number of forces and intervene decisively.

Gun shop and cordoning off the center

In Frankfurt, the Zeil shopping street was hit hardest, with shop windows smashed and stores looted. A gun shop was attacked: police seized two firearms there and detained several suspects. More than 1,000 police officers took part in the operation, including special units, along with water cannons, armored vehicles and a helicopter; according to police, bottles filled with flammable liquid were thrown at officers. More than 30 people were detained, and another group of about 100 people was checked during the night. The daytime demonstration, which according to law enforcement drew about 8,000 people, passed mostly peacefully, and the organizers distanced themselves from the violence; Hesse's Minister-President Boris Rhein promised that those responsible would be held accountable.

Cologne and the political reaction

In Cologne, the rally on the Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer, devoted to education, compulsory military service and the cost of living, was ended at around 4 p.m. after some participants covered their faces and began setting off fireworks; attacks on police followed, and one officer suffered a hand injury. In the evening near Cologne Cathedral, according to the dpa agency, about 200 people staged riots; at least one person was injured and five were detained. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt blamed the riots on 'left-wing groups and hooligans from migrant backgrounds' and demanded harsh punishments: 'Such a gross violation of public order must be followed by severe penalties,' euronews quotes him as saying. The Gen Z regelt movement stated that it did not control events after the rallies ended. The outlet notes that riots previously seen in other European countries — especially France, where more than 500 people were detained on Saturday — have now reached Germany as well. The next pan-European demonstrations are scheduled for November 20, and Gen Z regelt intends to take part in them.