Shops looted as German cost of living protests turn violent
Rioters looted shops in central Frankfurt late on Saturday as clashes erupted in German cities over the cost of living, according to BBC. Besides Frankfurt, there were incidents of violence in Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg, with police saying they used water cannon to disperse protesters targeting emergency workers with fireworks, stones and bottles. Thousands joined largely peaceful demonstrations earlier in the day organised by the campaign group Gen Z regelt to protest against underfunding in schools, the high cost of living, public spending cuts and military service. Authorities in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin reported as many as 18,000 protesters. Gen Z regelt spokesperson Lina Friedrich said the demonstrations were to fight for peace and freedom. Roman Poseck, interior minister of Hesse state, said that around 100 clearly identified left-wing extremists had infiltrated the protest in Frankfurt. Similar instances took place in other German cities, with Cologne police reporting attacks on officers, 27 police officers injured and up to 56 people temporarily detained in Berlin, and 120 people arrested in Hamburg.