Looting, petrol bombs, fireworks: Protests turn violent in France, Germany as unrest grips Europe

Scores of people took to the streets in France and Germany as Europe witnessed yet another week of protests. France saw its third consecutive weekend of demonstrations, while those in Germany turned violent, with protesters looting stores and hurling petrol bombs at authorities.

The demonstrations in France began last month with high school students protesting teacher shortages, neglected buildings, and the university admissions system. However, the agitation expanded when labor unions and others joined in with several other demands.

Protesters in France took to the streets on Saturday in a third consecutive weekend of demonstrations over education and living costs, The Associated Press reported. The French government estimated that 3,20,000 protesters took part nationwide on Saturday, down from 5,50,000 on October 17 and 4,10,000 on October 24, the report stated.

However, organisers are said to have reported higher figures. Their estimates could not be known at the time of publishing. While the crowd along the Boulevards des Maréchaux, avenues that ring the edge of Paris, remained largely peaceful at first, with techno music playing and marchers going trick-or-treating for Halloween, unrest broke out near Porte de Charenton.

Protesters launched glass bottles and fireworks, while police used stun grenades and tear gas. According to the French authorities, over 560 were arrested nationwide by Saturday night, AP added. Also Read | France on alert as student unions call for school, university blockades; security heightened In Paris, each demonstrating group had its own banner.

The groups included: high school students, climate activists and people protesting about the cost of living. A student, Corentin Cabreux, 21, said that he lives in a state-run student residence where "there are damp stains all along the bottom of my walls, whole sections peeling off, cockroaches everywhere, rats," the AP report added.

Meanwhile, an IT worker protested in solidarity with the students and her mother, who was struggling with a minimum wage job. A woman with gray hair carried a sign that read: "The Old are Fed Up Too," it added. Also Read | German police, protesters clash after 'Gen Z' demos Masked rioters reportedly looted stores in Frankfurt on Saturday after thousands of protesters took to the streets in Germany, demanding lower living costs and better education.

The protests in Germany were organised by the campaign group “Gen Z regelt” ("Gen Z takes charge" in German). It took place across 34 cities in the country, including Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt, according to a Reuters report.

The group voiced its opposition to compulsory military service and demanded more investment in education as many young Germans face rising costs, the report added. Hooded rioters looted shops in the German city of Frankfurt on Saturday amid demonstrations.

Several police officers were injured in the violence after thousands joined youth-led protests across the country, AFP reported. In Frankfurt, demonstrators clashed with police, throwing stones, fireworks, and petrol bombs.

Meanwhile, police deployed water cannons and pepper spray as several stores, including a gun store, were looted and damaged. According to the police, a suspect was arrested, and two weapons were seized. "In the city center area, windows of several shops have been smashed.

Additionally, Molotov cocktails were also being thrown at emergency forces. We urge all uninvolved individuals to avoid or leave the city center area," Frankfurt police said on X.