Gen Z protests on Halloween: Berlin sees no calls for violence, warns of far-left groups

Ahead of nationwide youth protests on Saturday, German federal authorities see no concrete calls for violence so far. The federal government has no "further information on planned violent riots," an Interior Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday. The Federal Criminal Police Office said it also had no indication of specific calls for violence. It classifies the registered rallies as belonging to the mainstream and moderate left.

According to security authorities, however, parts of the far-left scene are picking up the calls, as are some foreign-linked extremist groups in isolated cases. The domestic intelligence agency warned that far-left extremists, according to a spokesperson, aim to influence "legitimate democratic discourse" and radicalize the protests. The agency is stepping up its monitoring of websites and social networks. Federal police can support the states if needed.

The initiative "Gen Z regelt" is calling for protests in numerous cities on Oct. 31, including Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt and Munich. Among other things, it demands more money for education and health care and affordable living, rejects compulsory military service and explicitly distances itself from violence. It takes its cue from youth protests in France, which have repeatedly turned violent.