Youth-organised protests erupt across Germany

Thousands of people took to the streets of Hamburg as part of nationwide protests organised by the youth initiative "Gen Z regelt" - roughly, "Gen Z's got this."

Demonstrators called for better education, health care, climate protection and affordable living costs, while chanting slogans against the government.

Some protesters set off pyrotechnics during the march.

The initiative also opposes any return of compulsory military service.

Police in the western German city of Cologne cancelled a protest march after tensions escalated, with demonstrators setting off pyrotechnics and covering their faces, prompting police intervention.

There, police deployed water cannons to disperse the crowd as the situation deteriorated.