Shops looted in Frankfurt as German cost-of-living protests turn violent

Rioters looted shops in central Frankfurt on Saturday night after largely peaceful mass demonstrations over the cost of living gave way to violence, with clashes spreading to Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg.

Police deployed water cannon against protesters who targeted emergency workers with fireworks, stones and bottles. Frankfurt authorities said the windows of several shops were smashed, Molotov cocktails were thrown at emergency services, and the windows of a gun shop were broken. Police seized two weapons after arresting a suspect. A police spokesperson confirmed many arrests were made in the city.

Authorities in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin reported as many as 18,000 protesters — roughly half of the number organisers had estimated. The demonstrations were organised by Gen Z regelt, a campaign group whose name translates as "Gen Z takes charge," to protest against underfunding in schools, the high cost of living, public spending cuts and military service. Spokesperson Lina Friedrich said protesters were fighting "for peace and freedom, rather than for war and coercion," calling for better funding of health and education systems and a fairer distribution of the burden.

Roman Poseck, interior minister of Hesse state — of which Frankfurt is the capital — said around 100 "clearly identified left-wing extremists" had infiltrated the Frankfurt protest. He called the outcome "shameful," and warned that France "must not be held up as a model," referencing scenes of looting and attacks on police there.

The German unrest follows similar youth-led protests in France, where more than 320,000 people demonstrated on Saturday.