European Protests See Drop in Violence in France as Germany Reports Clashes

Protests across Europe focused on the rising cost of living and student demands resulted in fewer violent incidents in France this weekend, though Germany experienced localized clashes in several major cities. French officials expressed relief on Sunday after observing a reduction in violence compared to previous weekends of demonstrations. The police force anticipated further protests would occur once schools reopened on Monday following the autumn break.

In Paris, rioters threw Molotov cocktails at officers near the eastern end of the city on Saturday, injuring three agents and setting one vehicle on fire. In a separate incident, masked groups launched fireworks at police officers on a viewing platform facing the Eiffel Tower. The police responded with repeated charges, causing frightened tourists to flee the area. Paris and Marseille police reported attacks on a small number of businesses, but the damage was not considered severe.

The level of violence was lower than the events of October 17, when a town hall building was set on fire and more than 2,000 stores were looted. Authorities also noted the violence was less intense than the protests held on October 24. Police had detained 779 individuals by Saturday night, a drop from the 2,628 arrests recorded on October 17 and the 1,314 arrests from the previous weekend. A national police official stated that authorities prepared for a larger turnout, deploying approximately 70,000 officers across the country.

Germany faced its own challenges as national protests on Saturday turned violent in some locations. More than 100,000 people, primarily young individuals, marched peacefully to demand increased government spending on education, housing, and environmental protection. In Frankfurt, rioters assaulted police in the city center and looted stores. More than 100 officers were injured, and 54 people between the ages of 13 and 29 were detained. The police reported that 17 stores suffered damage, with five of those being looted.

Boris Rhein, the governor of Hesse, described the violent excesses in Frankfurt as shocking and stated that those who behaved like the attackers placed themselves outside of society. In Cologne, police used water cannons to disperse the crowd, while in Berlin, protesters attacked officers with bottles and pyrotechnics. The organizing group for the Saturday protests, Generation Z Is Taking Over, published a statement on Instagram distancing themselves from any form of violence committed by individuals or groups not part of the organized march.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt accused violent left-wing groups and rioters from the immigrant community of hijacking the peaceful marches. He told the newspaper Bild on Sunday that the rioters and looters would be identified and held accountable. In Portugal, riot police forcibly removed protesters from a square in Lisbon during the night. Thousands had marched during the day, and hundreds had camped in Rossio, a prominent square in the city center. Police removed tents and pushed the crowd to clear the area early Sunday morning, detaining several individuals.

Portuguese demonstrators have been protesting for several weeks, inspired by a movement in Spain, to denounce the rising cost of living, particularly housing costs. The French police official spoke to The Associated Press under the condition of anonymity because police policy did not allow him to be identified publicly. The official noted that student groups and unions had called for new national protests for Tuesday and Thursday.