German police fire water cannon as 'Gen Z' protests turn tense

Summary

German police fired water cannon at firework-hurling protesters on Saturday, 31 October, as tensions rose at the end of mass youth-led protests organised by the group 'GenZ regelt!' ('GenZ has got this'). Demonstrations took place in Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne and dozens of other cities, and thousands of police were deployed across the country. Reports describe the marches as mostly peaceful until tensions rose, when demonstrators hurled fireworks, stones and bottles and police responded with water cannon and pepper spray. Water cannon use was reported in Frankfurt, Hamburg and Cologne. Reports say tens of thousands of young people took part, demanding more education funding and protesting the high cost of living. One outlet's headline says rioters looted shops, and the organisers of 'GenZ regelt!' dissociated themselves from the violence.

Timeline

1. South China Morning Post

   31 Oct 2026, 17:35 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that German police fired water cannon at firework-hurling protesters on Saturday and were pelted with other projectiles as tensions rose at the end of massive youth-led 'Gen Z' protests organised by 'GenZ regelt!' in Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne and dozens of other cities.

2. Hindustan Times

   31 Oct 2026, 20:01 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that German police and protesters clashed after the 'Gen Z' demonstrations.

3. France 24

   31 Oct 2026, 20:07 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that police and protesters clashed on Saturday as tens of thousands of young people marched across Germany, demanding more education funding and protesting the high cost of living.

4. The Straits Times

   31 Oct 2026, 21:33 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that police used water cannon and pepper spray as masked demonstrators hurled fireworks, stones and bottles, and its headline says rioters looted shops during the 'Gen Z' demonstrations.

5. The Times of Israel

   31 Oct 2026, 21:40 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that police used water cannon in Frankfurt, Hamburg and Cologne as demonstrators hurled fireworks and bottles, and that organisers of 'GenZ regelt!' dissociated themselves from the violence.