Berlin police and the police union are warning that violence may erupt at the youth protests in 23 German cities on October 31, as has happened in France. Police and security experts are presented with warnings that these protests are in high danger of being penetrated by extremists. Organized by the “Gen Z Stands Up” initiative, the protests will focus on education, the high cost of living, and opposition to mandatory military service. “We clearly distance ourselves from any kind of violence,” said co-founder Akram Selo. According to the initiative, protests are planned in 23 cities, including the five biggest cities Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, and Munich.

Berlin police spokesman Florian Nath said, however, that discussions on social media indicate that the student protests were being deliberately exploited for other purposes. “We will be watching closely to see whether these are legitimate student protests or whether people are simply trying to use the Halloween backdrop to further their own interests.” The police union (GdP) in Berlin spoke of a “massive disturbance” for which security authorities were preparing. The images from France were a major cause for concern for the police, said GdP state chairman Stephan Weh, especially on a day like Halloween, when fireworks are already being used in Berlin.