Europe Protests: Clashes Hit Paris and Hamburg After Peaceful Marches

Protesters marched across France and Germany on Saturday in youth-led demonstrations over living costs and education. Most rallies stayed peaceful. Clashes broke out at the end of marches in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Hamburg.

France held its third straight weekend of protests, with turnout below earlier rounds. In Germany, the “Gen Z regelt” movement rallied in about 34 cities.

Police also made arrests in The Hague, and Spanish police stayed on high alert. Figures below are from early evening in Paris and may change.

France: 320,000 March, Clashes Follow

France’s Interior Ministry counted 320,000 protesters nationwide, including 70,000 in Paris. Youth unions claimed nearly 500,000, with 200,000 in Paris.

The ministry counted 410,000 on Oct. 24 and 550,000 on Oct. 17. Organisers claimed 800,000 on both days. Euronews said transport disruption may explain part of the drop.

About 70,000 police and gendarmes were deployed. The Paris march was rerouted to the city’s eastern edge, from Porte de Bagnolet to Porte de Charenton. It comes two weeks after the worst unrest in years.

Many marchers wore Halloween costumes, including Spider-Man and Frankenstein, AFP reported. Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon joined the Paris march.

By 2 p.m., police had made 27 arrests nationwide, versus 217 at the same point last Saturday. No final tally has been published yet.

Trouble came as the crowds dispersed. At Porte de Charenton, masked people pried up paving stones and threw them at police, AFP journalists reported.

Paris police said 200 to 300 rioters used mortar fireworks and threw projectiles, including a Molotov cocktail. Officers responded with tear gas and baton charges.

Police also fired tear gas in Lyon and used water cannon in Toulouse. Tensions were reported in Marseille, Nantes and Rennes. Toulon’s march ended calmly, the prefecture said.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had warned of a “very high” risk of violence on Halloween night. France also said it would deploy troops alongside police after the Oct. 17 riots. The cost-of-living revolt began as a student protest.

Clash Report footage shows the Paris clashes, a Macron piñata smashed in Bordeaux and flags burned in Lyon.

Germany: Gen Z Rallies, Then Hamburg Clashes

The Gen Z regelt initiative called protests in 34 German cities. More than 182,000 people said online they would attend. Turnout was well below that, Tagesschau reported.

Demonstrators want more school funding and action on living costs. They also demand climate protection and oppose a return of compulsory military service.

In Berlin, police counted up to 5,000 people at the Brandenburg Gate. Organisers said 11,000. Police called the rally almost trouble-free.

Police reported about 2,500 in Freiburg, 1,800 in Munich, 1,200 in Mainz and between 1,000 and 1,500 in Frankfurt. Those are early estimates.

Cologne police called off the march over masked participants and flares. The rally continued in place. In Stuttgart, police stopped the march several times.

Hamburg saw the worst trouble. Police counted about 6,700 people at the peak, and the march was mostly peaceful for hours.

Near the main station, masked people set fire to barricades and threw fireworks, NDR and dpa reported. Police used pepper spray and a water cannon, then ended the rally around 5 p.m.

Skirmishes continued in side streets. Anadolu reported at least two arrests, one involving an apparent fake gun.

In Berlin, a separate left-wing march at Rosenthaler Platz drew roughly 300 to 500 people. Fireworks were thrown at police. The main organisers had distanced themselves from it.

A Gen Z regelt spokeswoman said a “narrative of violence” distracts from the group’s demands, DW reported.

Elsewhere in Europe

In The Hague, riot police moved in at Korte Voorhout after youths ignored orders. At least 10 people were arrested, NL Times and NRC reported. Shops were boarded up.

Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht stayed calm in the afternoon, according to De Telegraaf.

In Spain, Catalan police ran their highest alert level after calls by the Blocus network for new gatherings. More than 300 officers were deployed in Barcelona.

Streets were quiet in the early evening, elDiario.es reported. A week ago, Barcelona’s riots led to 128 arrests, the city council said.

Calls to protest also spread on TikTok in Belgium, Austria, Switzerland and Portugal, AP reported.

What Happens Next

French student unions urged blockades of schools and universities on Tuesday and Thursday. Authorities fear more trouble after dark, with Halloween gatherings called in city centres.

Police barred access to Place de la République and Les Halles overnight. Final arrest and injury figures should emerge on Sunday.