German Cost-of-Living Protests Turn Violent as Shops Are Looted

Shops have been looted in central Frankfurt as protests over the rising cost of living and public spending cuts turned violent across several German cities.

Violence was reported in Frankfurt, Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg on Saturday, October 31, after thousands of people joined demonstrations organised by the youth campaign group Gen Z regelt, meaning “Gen Z takes charge”.

Police used water cannon to disperse groups of protesters accused of attacking emergency workers with fireworks, stones and bottles. In Frankfurt, authorities closed off sections of the city’s main shopping street as clashes and looting broke out. Several arrests were also reported.

The demonstrations were largely peaceful during the day, with participants protesting against underfunding in schools, rising living costs, public spending cuts and compulsory military service.

Organisers said the movement was aimed at demanding better living conditions and a fairer distribution of public resources, particularly for younger generations.

Gen Z regelt spokesperson Lina Friedrich said the campaign was about fighting for peace and freedom rather than war and coercion.

She said the group wanted greater support for healthcare and education, opposed compulsory military service and called for a fairer sharing of society’s responsibilities.

Authorities in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin reported up to 18,000 demonstrators, although this was roughly half the number organisers had estimated. German media reported that tens of thousands took part in demonstrations across the country.

As evening approached, however, the situation deteriorated in several locations. Frankfurt experienced some of the most serious violence, with police closing parts of its central shopping district following reports of damaged shop windows and looting.

The unrest also affected other major cities, including Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg, where police faced confrontations with demonstrators.

The German protests come amid a wider wave of youth-led demonstrations across Europe. In France, more than 320,000 people also took part in protests on Saturday, according to the figures cited by organisers and authorities.

The demonstrations reflect growing concerns among young people about the rising cost of living, pressure on public services and government policies affecting their future.

While the majority of participants took part in peaceful demonstrations, the violence that followed has brought renewed attention to the challenges facing authorities as youth movements demand changes to economic and social policies.