Riots in Frankfurt: Looting and 30 arrests following Gen Z protest
After an initially peaceful youth demonstration in Frankfurt, severe rioting erupted with looting and more than 30 provisional arrests.
Riots in Frankfurt city centre after youth protests
According to Kleine Zeitung, severe rioting broke out in Frankfurt on Saturday evening: young men smashed shop window panes with uprooted traffic signs and paving stones, forced their way into shops and stole trainers and other goods. Rioters also targeted a weapons shop – police later secured two firearms.
At several locations in the city centre, barrier fencing lay on the streets, rubbish was set alight, and fireworks were hurled at a police water cannon. Officers cordoned off Zeil, one of Germany's busiest shopping streets. The specialist tactical unit (SEK) was also called to the scene. By late evening, more than 30 people had been provisionally arrested.
Peaceful beginning at Weseler Werft
The events began as a quiet demonstration. Hundreds of young people – mostly schoolchildren and students – gathered at Weseler Werft on the Main riverbank under the banner of "Gen Z". Their placards bore slogans such as "No money for education. But for weapons?" and "Compulsory military service from age 67". At its peak, 8,000 to 9,000 people took part in the march.
The start of the demonstration procession was delayed because police insisted that masked participants remove their masks. During the march, fireworks and firecrackers repeatedly exploded from the crowd, repeatedly bringing the procession to a halt.
Left-wing extremists mix with the crowd
As darkness fell, the mood shifted. Chants of "All Frankfurt hates the police" and "Revolution" were heard. Skull flags and banners of "Antifascist Action" appeared. Hesse's Interior Minister Roman Poseck (CDU) later stated that around 100 violent left-wing extremists had mixed in with the demonstrators.
At an intersection, police attempted to separate peaceful demonstrators from the rioters. When this failed, the demonstration was prematurely terminated due to its "unpeaceful course". By this point, most schoolchildren and students had already left the event.
First confrontation at Konstablerwache
After the demonstration was dispersed, the situation escalated at Konstablerwache. Police officers in helmets faced aggressive groups, with numerous onlookers streaming in. Events remained confused and unclear throughout the evening – among the rioters were also shoppers and passersby on Zeil.
Sharp political reactions
Hesse's Minister-President Boris Rhein (CDU) told the German Press Agency of "violent excesses". "Whoever behaves like the attackers in Frankfurt city centre places themselves outside our society," said Rhein. They would "carefully assess aggressors, perpetrator groups and the course of events and draw our conclusions."
Interior Minister Poseck announced tough action. "We have seen images we did not want to see," he said. "Here a devastating connection between left-wing extremists and violent young people has unleashed itself." There was enormous aggressive potential among the rioters. "We need early and tough action against those who disregard our rules and attack our entire society."
In the weeks prior in Germany, discussion had taken place over whether conditions similar to those in France were conceivable here, where severe rioting and looting had occurred at the edges of social protests. Images from Frankfurt gave this debate fresh impetus.
Source: Kleine Zeitung