Gen Z protests: Frankfurt shops looted, 34 German cities hit
The Gen Z protest movement has spread from France to 34 German cities, with shops looted in Frankfurt and hundreds arrested in Paris.
Europe's "Generation Z" protest movement widened this week to at least 34 German cities, after weeks of unrest in France. On Saturday evening, the city of Frankfurt saw several shops looted and incendiary devices thrown at emergency responders, while Paris went through its third consecutive weekend of protest, with 779 arrests and a criminal investigation opened into "attempted murder" of security personnel.
France: a third wave of protests
The French capital saw a massive turnout on Saturday, 31 October, estimated at several hundred thousand protesters, in a third consecutive weekend of protests demanding a lower cost of living and better education conditions, with high-school and university students taking part. The Interior Ministry announced 779 arrests on Saturday evening, while prosecutors opened an investigation into "attempted murder" of people carrying out a public-authority duty, after a homemade incendiary device was thrown at about 15 gendarmes and several police officers in eastern Paris, causing second-degree burns to some security personnel. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the violence by some protesters as "exceptional."
Germany follows France's lead: looting in Frankfurt
The protests, led by the youth group "Gen Z regelt," spread to at least 34 German cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich, with turnout exceeding 184,000 people during the day, protesting compulsory military service and the rising cost of living, and demanding greater investment in public services. The gatherings turned into riots that evening in Frankfurt, where a perfume shop, a sportswear store and a gun shop were looted, in addition to incendiary devices thrown at emergency crews.
| Country | Date | Turnout | Key developments |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Saturday, 31 October (3rd wave) | Several hundred thousand | 779 arrests and "attempted murder" investigation |
| Germany | Saturday, 31 October (Halloween) | 184,000+ across 34 cities | Shops looted in Frankfurt, incendiary devices |
Where is the movement headed?
The German protests come weeks after rioting described as the worst in decades in neighboring France, part of a youth protest wave sweeping several European countries this year, most notably Serbia, where a student-led movement helped bring down a long-serving government. In Germany, the national school students' body (BSK) distanced itself from the "Gen Z regelt" initiative and announced a separate protest day planned for 20 November, while Paris prosecutors continue their attempted-murder investigation with no suspect arrested so far.