Halloween Protests

Escalations in Cologne, Fires in Paris

A police officer’s legs are on fire during the Halloween demonstration in Paris.(Bild: AFP/SAMEER AL-DOUMY)

The situation is extremely tense in many European countries on Halloween: In Germany, demonstrators set barricades on fire and threw firecrackers at police officers. In some cases, law enforcement responded with water cannons. Clashes between demonstrators and police also broke out in France—officers were attacked with fireworks, among other things.

In Germany, the “GenZ regelt” initiative called for peaceful protests, but in some cities the situation escalated as early as late afternoon. In Hamburg, rioters threw bottles and explosive devices at police officers. Water cannons were deployed to extinguish burning barricades—and pepper spray was also used against rioting demonstrators. 

Water cannons are being used in Cologne to keep rioters at bay.(Bild: EPA/CHRISTOPHER NEUNDORF)

Chaotic scenes in Berlin
In Berlin, the situation escalated as the hours passed: Police officers were hit by firecrackers that rioters threw at their feet. A car and a streetcar were vandalized. A demonstrator covered in blood was pulled from the crowd by police and arrested. The police declared the gathering over and urged people to leave the area. The troublemakers then formed human chains to hinder the police’s work.

“Krone” Background

• Social Media Phenomenon: The “Gen Z Takes Charge” campaign emerged as a digital youth protest that went viral on TikTok and WhatsApp (modeled after the unrest and blockades in France). In terms of content, it primarily focused on youth issues, dissatisfaction with politics, education, and concerns about the future. Organizers repeatedly emphasized that they intended to demonstrate peacefully.

• Allegations and Infiltration: Security agencies, conservative politicians, and media outlets in several countries warned that radical and extremist groups—including specific far-left activists and groups prone to violence—were hijacking this trend to exploit it for riots, unrest, or vandalism.

• The Big Picture: While critics and authorities warn of radicalization and a slide into chaos, sociologists explain: This is a broad and highly complex youth phenomenon on social media, in which frustration, the bandwagon effect, and radical free-riders go hand in hand.

In Cologne, too, water cannons were deployed to keep protesters at bay. Officers are said to have been pelted with stones. The demonstration, which had gotten out of hand, was officially dispersed by the organizers in the early evening. In Hanover, a 58-year-old woman suffered a minor injury to her lower leg from a firecracker. In Dresden, recycling bins were set on fire, and in Stuttgart, police officers were pelted with eggs. 

Several police officers are also said to have been injured in the riots—in Frankfurt, even several. “One officer may have been injured somewhat more seriously, but that still needs to be investigated further,” a spokesperson explained, according to “Bild.”

A police officer’s legs are on fire during the Halloween demonstration in Paris.(Bild: AFP/SAMEER AL-DOUMY)

Tense Situation in France as Well
In France, too, the first tensions between security forces and demonstrators arose as early as late afternoon. In Paris, explosions from fireworks could be heard, and images showed emergency responders engulfed in flames. Tear gas was used in Paris and Lyon. 

According to media reports, clashes with police also occurred in Rennes and Toulouse. In Rennes, according to the local prefecture, individuals fired projectiles at police officers. According to the French Ministry of the Interior, there were 27 arrests nationwide as of 2:00 p.m.

Police officers in Paris were attacked with fireworks—the situation was extremely tense in the evening.(Bild: AFP/ED JONES)

According to the Ministry of the Interior, 320,000 demonstrators took to the streets across France; youth organizations put the number of participants at 500,000. Ahead of the protests, 10,000 checks were conducted to remove individuals carrying weapons from the streets.

A Day of “Very High Risk”
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had previously spoken of a dayof“veryhighrisk.”He said there were extremely alarming calls for looting and rioting. Authorities believe it is possible that Halloween celebrations on the same day could provide an opportunity for people to wear masks and commit crimes under the guise of the holiday. Curfews were imposed in several cities, for example, for certain locations or for minors.

In Vienna, too, there was great fear that the protests could escalate: stores in the city center were barricaded. The police anticipated a turbulent night. FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl considers the escalating protests to be “no longer normal.”