Violence mars youth protests in Germany as extremists infiltrate rallies

Youth protests that spread from France to Germany have turned violent.

A youth group called GenZRegelt — German for "Generation Z takes charge" — staged demonstrations in more than 30 cities on Saturday (local time), demanding improvements to education, relief from the cost of living and greater social justice, according to DPA news agency, the BBC and other international media.

Authorities in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin said a combined 18,000 people took part in the protests. The demonstrations were largely peaceful during daylight hours, but after nightfall some areas saw outbreaks of violence, including attacks on police officers, smashed storefronts and looting.

Frankfurt police said riots broke out in the city center overnight, prompting the deployment of special response units. Protesters hurled Molotov cocktails at officers and shattered the windows of multiple shops, including clothing and liquor stores.

One gun shop was looted after its window was broken. Police subsequently arrested one suspect and recovered two weapons.

Roman Poseck, interior minister of Hesse state, where Frankfurt is located, claimed that around 100 people identified as left-wing extremists had infiltrated the protests, calling the way the demonstrations ended a disgrace.

"We remember images from France — looting, arson attacks on homes and police vehicles, assaults on officers," Poseck said. "This must not be held up as a model."

A Frankfurt police spokesperson said about 30 people had been arrested and additional officers deployed to shops requiring extra protection. The exact number of injuries from the violence had not been confirmed.

In Cologne, violence broke out near the central train station, where people threw bottles and bicycles at police officers.

"It is deeply regrettable that extremists with nothing but violence on their minds infiltrated young people who wanted to protest peacefully for their future," Cologne Police Chief Johannes Hermanns said.

Berlin police said 27 officers were injured and 56 people arrested in the capital.

In Hamburg, people dressed in black fired fireworks and set barricades alight. Public broadcaster NDR reported that 120 people were arrested.

In France, where large-scale weekend protests have been ongoing for three weeks, 320,000 people gathered nationwide on Saturday, with clashes erupting in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse and other cities, resulting in more than 560 arrests.

Most demonstrators marched in a festive atmosphere, with many dressed in Halloween costumes and dancing to music. But as dusk fell, some began throwing Molotov cocktails and other objects at police officers, who responded with flash grenades and tear gas.