Germany sees police use water cannon as nationwide Gen Z rallies turn tense

German law enforcement officers deployed water cannon against crowds throwing fireworks and other projectiles as nationwide youth demonstrations grew tense on Saturday, according to Agence France-Presse.

The gatherings were organised by an initiative called "GenZ regelt!" which translates to "GenZ has got this." Large crowds of young demonstrators took to the streets across multiple metropolitan areas, including Berlin, Frankfurt, and Cologne, as well as dozens of other towns and cities throughout Germany.

Thousands of police personnel were mobilized nationwide to supervise the demonstrations. While the events remained predominantly peaceful for most of the day, authorities encountered escalating unrest toward the evening hours in several locations. Protesters launched fireworks and threw various objects at security officers, prompting the deployment of water cannon to break up the crowds.

The mass demonstrations reflect growing disillusionment among European youths, who have increasingly voiced frustration through street actions. The movement in Germany draws inspiration from comparable youth-led mobilisations that have recently taken place across the continent, particularly in France and Italy.

The unrest marks the latest chapter in a series of youth protests challenging authorities in major European cities. Official figures on detentions, injuries, or the total number of participants across the country have not yet been released.