Protest Violence Eases in France as German Cities See Night of Unrest

Seven hundred and seventy-nine people were arrested in France on Saturday, a sharp decline from the 2,628 detainees recorded during the previous major protest wave. French authorities expressed relief Sunday that the violence accompanying mass demonstrations over rising living costs was less severe than in prior weekends. This reduction in arrests comes as police prepare for a new round of demonstrations scheduled for the coming week.

The violence in Paris on Saturday was concentrated but less destructive than previous events. Rioters targeted police with Molotov cocktails at the end of a march on the city’s eastern edge, injuring three officers and setting a car on fire. In another part of the city, masked groups hurled fireworks at officers near the Eiffel Tower. Police responded with repeated charges that sent tourists fleeing the area. By contrast, the protests on Oct. 17 saw a city hall torched and more than 2,000 stores looted. Officials noted that only a handful of shops were targeted in Paris and Marseille on Saturday, with no major damage reported.

A national police official told The Associated Press that authorities had prepared for a larger turnout of both peaceful marchers and troublemakers. Approximately 70,000 police officers were deployed across the country for the Saturday events. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in accordance with police policy, said tensions are expected to rise again as high schools reopen on Monday. Student groups and labor unions have called for new nationwide protests to take place on Tuesday and Thursday.

In Germany, more than 100,000 mostly young people protested peacefully on Saturday, demanding government investment in education, housing, climate protection, and affordable daily life. However, the mood turned volatile in several cities after dark. In Frankfurt, rioters attacked police downtown and looted stores, resulting in injuries to more than 100 officers. Police detained 54 people, with ages ranging from 13 to 29, and reported that 17 stores were damaged, five of which were looted. The situation in Frankfurt calmed by early Sunday morning after police cordoned off the city center.

Boris Rhein, the governor of Hesse, said he was shocked by the violent excesses in Frankfurt and stated that those who behave like the attackers place themselves outside of society. Alexander Dobrindt, the German Interior Minister, accused violent left-wing groups and troublemakers from the immigrant community of hijacking the peaceful demonstrations. Dobrindt told the daily paper Bild on Sunday that the rioters and looters would be identified and held accountable.

Unrest also occurred in Cologne, where police used water cannons to disperse crowds, and in Berlin, where protesters attacked police with bottles and pyrotechnics. The youth initiative Gen Z regelt, which organized the Saturday protests, posted a statement on Instagram distancing itself from any form of violence committed by groups or individuals not part of the official demonstrations.

In Portugal, riot police removed protesters by force from Rossio square in Lisbon early Sunday. Thousands had marched through the city during the day, and a few hundred camped out in the square overnight. Police intervened to remove tents and push people away, detaining a few individuals. These demonstrations were inspired by a similar movement in Spain aimed at addressing rising housing and living costs.