Europe sees violent protests over cost of living as police deploy water cannons and tear gas
Clashes in Germany, France, and Italy marked the latest wave of demonstrations, with thousands detained and thousands more marching in support of public services.
By Pedro Barnes ·
Violent clashes between demonstrators and police marked the latest round of protests across Europe on Saturday, with security forces using water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds in Germany, France, and Italy. The demonstrations, centered on rising living costs and demands for better public services, saw tens of thousands of participants take to the streets in major cities.
In Germany, the movement known as Gen Z Takes Responsibility organized events in more than 30 cities. While many rallies remained peaceful, tensions flared in Cologne where police canceled a planned march after participants used pyrotechnics and covered their faces. Officers later deployed a water cannon as the group dispersed along the Rhine River. In Hamburg, barricades were set on fire, and in Stuttgart, police halted a march multiple times due to similar displays of pyrotechnics.
Berlin’s main rally near the Brandenburg Gate concluded without incident, though police estimated attendance at 5,000 while organizers claimed 11,000. A separate, smaller group of about 300 people gathered at Rosenthaler Platz later in the day, throwing firecrackers at officers. Organizers of the main rally had already distanced themselves from this secondary demonstration, urging participants to avoid violence.
France deployed 70,000 police and gendarmes for the third consecutive weekend of protests. Preliminary figures showed 15,000 people participating in 65 actions nationwide, with 27 detainees. In Lyon, clashes erupted at Place Jean Macé as protesters vandalized a tram station and threw objects. Police responded with tear gas, and one person was injured. During the march, footage showed demonstrators trampling and burning Israeli and US flags while chanting that Israel is a murderer.
In Paris, demonstrators marched along an approved route on the eastern outskirts after the Council of State upheld restrictions on the procession. Le Monde reported no major clashes in the capital. In Marseille, several hundred people gathered in the Réformés area despite a ban, leading to police identity checks as an unauthorized march began.
Italy’s Interior Ministry estimated that 255,000 people participated in protests nationwide, a figure far lower than the 1.5 million claimed by organizers. Police conducted 60 searches across 23 cities targeting suspects accused of inciting violence online. In Rome, protesters set garbage bins on fire and attempted to reach parliament, while in Milan, the eastern ring road was blocked for an hour and a half.
The unrest extended to Albania, where masked individuals set bins ablaze outside the Education Ministry in Tirana and threw paving stones at police. Earlier that day, hundreds had protested peacefully, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. In Portugal, thousands demonstrated for housing rights in Lisbon and Porto, with representatives from the ombudsman's office monitoring police conduct.
