Dobrindt blames left-wing groups and “chaotics from the migrant milieu” for the riots

The images of the riots following the “Gen Z regulates” demonstrations in several German cities have provoked strong reactions across the country. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) condemned the riots and sees certain groups as the perpetrators of the riots. “Violent left-wing groups and chaotic people from the migrant milieu hijacked the peaceful afternoon demonstrations last night,” the CSU politician told “Bild”. »The rioters and looters will be identified and held accountable. This breach of the peace must be followed by severe punishments.”

At the same time, he praised the actions of the security forces. “Excesses of violence like those in Paris were prevented thanks to our highly committed police forces,” said Dobrindt. "The police's operational concept with a massive presence and decentralized deployment of forces has worked."

After initially peaceful demonstrations by tens of thousands of young people, violent scenes and riots broke out in the evening, especially in Frankfurt am Main and Cologne. In Berlin there were bottles and firecrackers thrown. In some cities, police used water cannons.

Left party leader Ines Schwerdtner warned against denigrating the protests. "Neither the affordability crisis, nor the social cuts, nor the widespread will for peaceful protest disappears because small groups of frustrated people rioted afterwards," she told the "Rheinische Post".

At the same time, Schwerdtner made it clear: “What happened afterwards outside of the protests cannot be justified and does not help the cause. On the contrary, this is now being used by the governing parties and right-wing media to discredit the protests." On the other hand, one must say: "The protests were peaceful and justified," said the left.

There was looting at night in Frankfurt am Main. "I am shocked by the excesses of violence in Frankfurt, which will not remain without consequences," said Hesse's Prime Minister Boris Rhein (CDU) to the dpa news agency. »Anyone who behaves like the attackers in downtown Frankfurt puts themselves outside of our society. We will carefully assess the aggressors, groups of perpetrators and the course of events and draw our conclusions.

His Interior Minister Roman Poseck (CDU) announced tough action against the rioters. "We saw pictures we didn't want to see," he said. "A devastating connection between left-wing extremists and violent young people has erupted here."

The mayor of Cologne, Torsten Burmester (SPD), told the dpa that he himself was present at the demonstration. “I am particularly affected by the attacks on rescue workers who were only able to continue patient care under police protection,” he said.

He has respect for the young people who have peacefully drawn attention to the concerns of their generation. The dialogue that has already begun will be continued in Cologne. "When you see the images from Cologne and other major cities in Germany, it also becomes clear that extremists take over the reported gatherings in order to commit crimes from the crowd," said Burmester.

North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) also agreed to this. The protests were hijacked by left-wing extremists and violent groups of young men. They deliberately escalated the situation. »Anyone who throws stones and firecrackers at police officers, sets off pyrotechnics and riots through the streets has no political agenda. People who mask themselves don't want to discuss and persuade. They want trouble and violence. There’s no justification for that.”

Many took to the streets peacefully on Saturday. »Young people who make demands for the future of a generation. That is their right and is part of a living democracy. But what happened next in Cologne damaged everything that was at stake.

CDU General Secretary Franziska Hoppermann accused the demonstrations of having no substantive goal and of only being a "cover for violence and riots." Violent left-wing extremism is the “political foreground” of the Left Party, with which the SPD and the Greens wanted to govern the state of Berlin.

The “Gen Z regulates” initiative itself drew a positive conclusion from the youth protests. “We had no influence on what happened after the end of the rallies,” said a spokesman. "Today a hundred thousand people showed what they are taking to the streets for," he told dpa. The group had called for peaceful protests in more than 30 cities, demanding, among other things, more money for schools, measures to combat rising living costs and more climate protection.

Like Left Party leader Schwerdtner, SPD parliamentary secretary Dirk Wiese also insisted that these concerns of the demonstrators should not be forgotten. "Concerns about one's own future should be taken seriously," he told the "Rheinische Post." “Politicians must act, especially when it comes to the issue of a lack of equal opportunities and educational equality.” Where protests turn into violence, this should be clearly condemned, “and consistent action is the right way forward.” However, this should not "hide the concerns of the young generation as a whole who were peacefully protesting on the streets," said the SPD politician.