Late on Saturday, rioters broke into shops on Frankfurt's main shopping street, smashing windows and stealing items such as trainers, while police reported the use of molotov cocktails against emergency services.

Police deployed special units and water cannons in Frankfurt, Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg as clashes intensified, with officers targeted by fireworks, stones and bottles.

Authorities in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin reported up to 18,000 protesters, about half of the organisers' estimate, and confirmed numerous arrests, including 120 in Hamburg and dozens in other cities.

In Cologne, police said officers were assaulted near the main train station with bottles and a bicycle, prompting the police chief to condemn extremist infiltration of the demonstrations.

Berlin's evening demonstration resulted in 27 police officers injured and up to 56 people temporarily detained, according to Berlin police.

Hesse interior minister Roman Poseck said roughly 100 identified left‑wing extremists had infiltrated the Frankfurt protest, describing the outcome as "shameful".

Germany's interior minister Alexander Dobrindt told Bild that police had prevented "violence like that seen in Paris" and called for harsh punishments for those involved.

The unrest follows similar youth‑led protests across Europe, including over 320,000 demonstrators in France demanding action on the high cost of living and public service cuts.