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Cologne protest organiser stresses peaceful aims after riots

Emma Hübner wants demonstrations to continue peacefully, while police describe seized knives and Hesse's interior minister attributes the violence to different groups.

Channel: tagesschau ·

GermanyStory of November 2, 2026Trari Newsroom

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Emma Hübner, a spokesperson for the youth protest initiative "Gen Z regelt" in Cologne, draws a distinction between the demonstration she helped organise and the unrest that followed: participants marched peacefully, she says, and that is how they want to continue.

Germany's ARD news programme tagesschau brings together reactions from organisers, police and politicians after largely peaceful daytime protests over education and affordable housing were followed by riots in several cities. The report opens with footage of destruction and looting in central Frankfurt, then moves to police deployments around Cologne Cathedral.

Cologne police say about a thousand people hijacked the protest. Police spokesperson Philipp Hüwe says officers found knives and materials for concealing faces on suspects, arguing that these are not things people should bring to a demonstration. The broadcaster reports that 23 police officers were injured in Cologne and several suspects were taken into custody.

Hübner expresses sadness about the subsequent violence while emphasising the peaceful character of her group's march.

Roman Poseck, the Christian Democratic interior minister of Hesse, the state containing Frankfurt, offers his account of who was responsible. He attributes the initial violence to left-wing extremists, including people from the demonstration, and says young people with migrant backgrounds later joined and used substantial violence. Those characterisations are Poseck's account; the brief report presents no further evidence establishing the identities or affiliations of those involved.

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