German ministers threaten tough penalties after Gen Z rioters loot Frankfurt shops and injure more than 100 police officers

France experienced its third straight weekend of disorder as Halloween protests over the cost of living spread across Europe, with 320,000 people marching nationwide and police opening an attempted murder investigation after a Molotov cocktail set an officer ablaze. Frankfurt was Germany's flashpoint, where 1,300 officers were deployed and more than 100 injured as hooded rioters smashed windows through the financial district and raided a gun shop, leading to the arrest of a suspect found carrying two seized weapons.

Hesse interior minister Roman Poseck said 'around 100 clearly identified left-wing extremists' had hijacked peaceful Gen Z demonstrations.

French police recorded 779 arrests on Saturday — far fewer than the 2,628 on October 17th, a night that saw a city hall set on fire and 2,000 stores looted within hours.

Authorities are on alert for further disorder as French schools reopen Monday, with student groups having announced nationwide protest days for Tuesday and Thursday.