Frankfurt: Rioters looted stores and attacked police in Frankfurt on Saturday during protests undertaken by mostly young people across Germany.
The protests, mostly peaceful - undertaken by more than 100,000 - demanded that the government invest more money in education, housing, climate protection and make daily life more affordable. In some cities, the protests turned violent at night.
The Frankfurt protests
Following a demonstration in Frankfurt, rioters attacked police downtown and looted stores. Several protesters and officers were injured, and 30 people were detained. After police cordoned off an area in the city centre, the situation calmed down by early Sunday morning.
“I am shocked by the violent excesses in Frankfurt, which will not go unpunished,” said Boris Rhein, the governor of Hesse, where Frankfurt is located. “Anyone who behaves as the attackers in downtown Frankfurt places themselves outside our society.''
Violence also broke out Saturday night in Cologne, where police used water cannons to disperse the crowd. In Berlin, protesters attacked police with bottles and pyrotechnics.
Organisers distance themselves from violence
The organisers of Saturday's protests, a youth initiative called 'Gen Z regelt' - roughly 'Gen Z's got this' - posted a statement on Instagram distancing themselves from “any form of violence, as well as violent acts by other groups or individuals” who were not part of the demonstrations.
The outfit had called for protests in 34 cities, including Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg and Munich, on Saturday.
The response of the German state
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt accused “violent left-wing groups and troublemakers from the immigrant community " of hijacking peaceful demonstrations.
“The rioters and looters will be identified and held accountable,'' Dobrindt told the daily paper Bild on Sunday.
German police have said that they remain "vigilant and relaxed", emphasising their intention to protect people's right to assemble and express their opinions.
However, concerns remain over the possibility of extremist groups infiltrating the demonstrations. Andreas Rosskopf, head of the German Federal Police's GdP union, warned that police would take a firm stance against any violence.
"State, but also federal police, will offer a firm and decisive response," he told the Rheinische Post newspaper on Wednesday.
(With inputs from AP via PTI & ANI)
