FRANKFURT.- Hooded rioters looted shops in Frankfurt on Saturday night after tens of thousands of young demonstrators took to the streets in 34 German cities to demand better education funding, lower living costs and an end to compulsory military service.
The protests were organized by the campaign group "Gen Z regelt" — "Gen Z takes charge" — and were part of a wider wave of youth-led demonstrations across Europe this year. Organizers had expected around 182,000 participants, but police figures came in far lower: in Berlin, police put the turnout at about 5,000, while organizers claimed 10,000.
The day was largely peaceful until nightfall, when the mood changed sharply in Frankfurt, Germany's financial hub. At least two stores were looted and several more damaged, according to a Reuters witness. Frankfurt police said on X that "violent disturbances are continuing," that shop windows had been smashed and that Molotov cocktails were being thrown at emergency services, urging bystanders to avoid the city center or leave the area.
Police closed Die Zeil, one of Germany's busiest shopping streets, and said about 30 people were taken into custody in Frankfurt. The windows of a gun shop were smashed, and police said they seized two weapons after arresting a suspect.
Clashes were also reported in Cologne, where about 200 people were involved in disorder near the cathedral, throwing bottles and bicycles at officers; one person was hurt and five were detained. In Berlin, police ended an evening demonstration after officers were hit with stones and fireworks were set off; police said 27 officers suffered minor injuries and up to 56 protesters were held for a short time. In Hamburg, some barricades were set ablaze.
Ahead of the marches, some businesses boarded up windows and planned early closures over fears of unrest, including shops along Berlin's luxury Kurfürstendamm boulevard. Authorities said most demonstrations had remained peaceful but warned that extremist groups could try to exploit the movement.
Germany's national umbrella organization for school students, BSK, has distanced itself from the initiative and plans a separate day of protests on November 20.
Fuentes: Reuters vía GMA Network, 1 de noviembre de 2026; The Indian Express, 1 de noviembre de 2026; BBC vía Business Today, 1 de noviembre de 2026; Pajhwok Afghan News, 1 de noviembre de 2026.