Frankfurt, Oct 31. (dpa/GNA) – Several German police officers were injured during clashes at a demonstration in Frankfurt on Saturday evening, prompting authorities to break up the protest after attacks with firecrackers and stones.
Roman Poseck, Hesse state Interior Minister said one officer may have sustained more serious injuries, although the extent of the injuries was still being assessed.
Police declared the demonstration organised by the “Gen Z regelt” (Gen Z Takes Charge) initiative over after officers were targeted.
Poseck said warnings that left-wing extremists might infiltrate the demonstration had proved justified.
“We believe there were around 100 left-wing extremist perpetrators of violence. They launched massive attacks on police with bottles, stones and pyrotechnics,” he said.
Police also deployed water cannon during the unrest.
Poseck said officers had brought the situation under control.
The demonstration in Germany’s financial hub began in the early afternoon on the banks of the Main River and stayed largely peaceful for several hours.
However, the situation grew tense as darkness fell in the evening in the city centre, where the march came to a halt.
Frankfurt police estimated peak attendance at around 8,000 people, while organisers put the figure at 9,000.
Similar youth protests were held in other German cities and towns on Saturday.
GNA