20 arrested as Gen Z protests rock Berlin

At least 20 people were arrested during a Generation Z protest march in Berlin, Germany, after clashes broke out between demonstrators and police, authorities said on Sunday.

The demonstration, held under the slogan “Gen Z regelt” (Gen Z takes charge), also attracted pro-Palestinian activists. Police reportedly confronted protesters as tensions escalated during the march.

Videos circulating on social media showed riot police pushing and beating a group of demonstrators inside a subway carriage. Authorities also reported incidents involving the use of pyrotechnics.

Initial reports on Saturday put the number of arrests at 22. However, a police spokesperson said the figures were still being reviewed and could change as officers processed the information.

Police registered 28 criminal complaints involving several alleged offences, including disturbing public peace, physical assault, resisting law enforcement officers and violations of explosives regulations. Around 700 police personnel were deployed to manage the demonstration.

At least three police officers sustained injuries during the protest, according to the spokesperson. Authorities did not provide details about possible injuries among demonstrators.

Protesters were heard chanting slogans against Israel and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Police also reported repeated anti-police chants during the march.

Meanwhile, another wave of demonstrations is expected across Germany and other European countries on November 20, following a call for a continent-wide youth strike.

Organisers in Berlin have so far registered an expected turnout of around 15,000 participants. Similar demonstrations are anticipated in France, Italy, Spain, Belgium and Britain.

The latest unrest follows protests held across Germany on November 1, when police arrested more than 200 people after violent confrontations erupted in several cities.

Although the Generation Z demonstrations were largely peaceful, smaller groups of radical protesters reportedly erected barricades and clashed with law enforcement in Hamburg, Frankfurt and Berlin.

Organised by the Gen Z Regelt initiative, the demonstrations took place in more than 30 cities and attracted tens of thousands of young participants. Protesters called for increased education funding, measures to address the rising cost of living and opposition to proposals to restore compulsory military service.