Shops in downtown Frankfurt have been looted Saturday evening, while protests against high cost of living and public spending cuts have been accompanied by clashes and violence in several German cities.
In addition to Frankfurt, violent incidents have been reported in Berlin, Kaln, and Hamburg. Police have used water cannons to disperse protesters, who have attacked emergency teams with pyrotechnic tools, stones and bottles.
The protests had started earlier in the day, and for the most part, they were peaceful. They were organised by the campaign group Guen Zhageltı, with thousands participating, to oppose lack of financing in schools, high cost of living, public spending cuts and mandatory military service, reports the BBC.
The riots in Germany follow massive protests led by young people in France, where more than 320 thousand people demonstrated on Saturday.
Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has told the newspaper ‘Bild’ on Sunday that police had prevented the outbreak of a violence similar to that seen in Paris in recent weeks. He has demanded severe punishment for those who have participated in riots and plunder.
In Frankfurt, police have closed a large part of the main trade route, while a spokesman has confirmed numerous arrests have been held.
Authorities in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin have reported up to 18 thousand protesters, about half the number organisers had predicted. However, German media report that tens of thousands have attended protests in various cities in the country.
Organising group spokeswoman Lena Friedrich has said the protests were intended to seek peace and freedom, not war and obligation. It has stressed that the primary demands of young people are related to greater support for health and education systems, opposition to compulsory military service, and the proper distribution of the financial burden.
Frankfurt police have reported that during the night in the centre of the city, violent training has erupted, for what special police units have been engaged.
According to authorities, the glass of several shops has been broken, while Molotov cocktails have been thrown against emergency teams. Also, an arms store’s window is broken. After the arrest of a suspect, police seized two weapons. Some have entered other stores, from which they have stolen products, including athletes.
Hessen’s Interior Minister Roman Possek, where Frankfurt is the largest city, has declared that about 100 leftist extremists, clearly identified, had infiltrated the protest. He has described the results as shameful.
Similar incidents have been reported in other cities. In Kiln, police have announced that police officials have been attacked near the main train station, where bottles and a bicycle have been thrown at them.
Culny Police chief Johannes Hermanns has said it is deeply unfortunate that youth protests who wanted to express concerns about their future peacefully have been exploited by extremists who targeted violence.
Meanwhile, a smaller protest in Berlin in the evening, following larger demonstrations during the day, ended with 27 injured police officials and up to 56 persons temporarily detained.
In Hamburg, black – dressed people have thrown pyrotechnic tools and set fire to the barricades. According to public broadcaster NDR, 120 people have been arrested in this town.
Protests in Germany took place on the same day as other major demonstrations in several European countries.
Source Layer: Dukeagini