Protests in Germany against rising prices, problems in the education system, and the possibility of compulsory military service have resulted in riots in several cities. Shops have been looted, at least 176 people have been detained, and 27 police officers have been injured.
Modern.az reports that the “Generation Z will solve it” protests, attended by thousands of young people, initially had a peaceful character, but turned into clashes in Frankfurt, Berlin, Cologne, and Hamburg during the night.
Water cannons were used to disperse the demonstrators who threw fireworks, stones, and bottles at police officers.
Shops were looted
A large part of the main shopping street in Frankfurt, Hesse, was closed by the police. The windows of several shops, including a gun store, were broken. Two weapons were seized from one of the detained suspects.
According to local media, protesters also entered some shops and looted sports shoes and other products.
What do the protesters demand?
Lina Friedrich, a representative of the “Gen Z regelt” movement, stated that the protests aim to call for peace and freedom, not war and coercion.
According to her, young people demand more funds for the healthcare and education systems, no compulsory military service, and a fairer distribution of social burdens.
Hesse's Interior Minister Roman Posek, recalling the riots in France, emphasized that Germany should not follow such examples.
Clashes also in Berlin and Hamburg
In Cologne, bottles and bicycles were thrown at police officers. The city's police chief, Johannes Hermans, expressed regret that young people who wanted to hold a peaceful protest were put in a difficult situation due to the violence of radical groups.
During the protests in Berlin, 27 police officers were injured, and 56 demonstrators were temporarily detained.
In Hamburg, protesters dressed in black set off fireworks and burned barricades. According to NDR television, 120 people were detained in the city.
Frankfurt police announced that the situation in the city had calmed down in the morning.
