Gen Z protests escalate in four German cities

Protests by young people escalated in several German cities on Saturday, including Hamburg, Stuttgart, Cologne and Frankfurt, according to police, Anadolu Agency reported.

Arrests and fires in Hamburg

At least two people were arrested during a youth march in Hamburg on Saturday afternoon. One of them was apparently carrying a fake firearm in the upscale Jungfernstieg neighbourhood. Police officers subdued both men. There were no immediate reports of injuries, and their motives were not known.

As the march ended, rioters set fire to barricades in central Hamburg. Water cannons arrived to put out the blaze as police tried to clear the street. People in the crowd threw firecrackers and bottles at officers, who used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse protesters.

More than 10,000 people joined the march. Police had prepared a large-scale operation after nationwide youth protests were announced, deploying drones and water cannons.

The “Gen Z Takes Charge” initiative called for demonstrations across Germany. Protesters demanded more funding for education, consistent climate protection and action to tackle rising living costs, and opposed the introduction of mandatory military service.

Demonstrations in Stuttgart, Cologne and Frankfurt

In Stuttgart, police said fireworks were apparently fired at officers from within the march. They also reported scattered vandalism along the route, including graffiti and burning rubbish bins, which officers extinguished.

The march had been halted several times over masked participants and fireworks. Police said at least 3,000 people took part, some wearing face masks. Protesters threw firecrackers, set off flares and tried to leave the route; officers were also reportedly pelted with eggs.

In Cologne, police canceled a march after fireworks were set off and several participants breached the ban on face coverings. A water cannon was deployed on the outskirts of the demonstration. A German Press Agency reporter said it sprayed water at demonstrators after several firecrackers were set off. A police spokeswoman said officers had earlier been attacked with fireworks.

Several thousand people took part in the Cologne demonstration, fewer than the 15,000 who had registered, police said.

The situation also escalated in central Frankfurt. Public broadcaster hessenschau reported that protesters threw bottles and that tensions were high. Police had earlier said firecrackers were being thrown at officers. A water cannon was deployed near the protest site, and police threatened to use pepper spray.