Gen Z protests sweep 34 German cities, looting and petrol bombs reported in Frankfurt

Thousands of young people protested in major German cities against the poor state of the education system, budget cuts to health and social services, the rising cost of living and compulsory military service, according to a Reuters report.

The protests were held on Saturday (31 October) in around 34 cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich, at the call of an organisation named 'Gen Z Regelt'.

In Frankfurt, Germany's financial centre, the protest turned violent at one stage, as hooded rioters looted several shops.

Frankfurt police said on the social platform X that the windows of several shops in the city centre had been smashed and Molotov cocktails thrown at emergency service workers. Police urged the public to stay away from the city centre while the situation was brought under control.

In Hamburg, barricades were set up and set on fire on streets in some places.

A spokesperson for the organising group, Lina Friedrich, said: 'We are here to fight not for war or the use of force, but for peace and freedom. Better support for the health and education systems and opposition to military service are our main demands.'

The organisers had hoped for a turnout of more than 18,000 people, while police said around 18,000 protesters took part in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin combined. The German protests were described as a continuation of the youth-led movement that has recently spread across Europe.

Fearing possible violence and vandalism, many businesses in areas including Berlin's luxury Kurfürstendamm shopping boulevard boarded up their windows and planned to close their shops early.

Germany's interior ministry said there were fears that 'extremist' groups might try to exploit the movement. Recalling the scenes of protest in France, Hesse state interior minister Roman Pisech said a destructive situation like France's could not become a model in Germany.

The protesters accused the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz of placing an excessive economic burden on young people, and announced that they would continue the movement until their demands are met.