Rioters looted several shops in Frankfurt late on Saturday and clashes erupted in the city and in other German cities after largely peaceful mass protests over the cost of living.

Frankfurt police said windows of several shops were smashed and Molotov cocktails were thrown at emergency services, and there were incidents of violence in Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg, with police using water cannon. The demonstrations, organized by the group Gen Z regelt, took place in 34 cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich, against compulsory military service and for more investment in education, amid the cost of living. Authorities in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin counted as many as 18,000 protesters, roughly half of the organizers' estimate. In France, more than 320,000 people demonstrated on Saturday and 565 were arrested across the country, and a police officer was struck by a Molotov cocktail in Paris.