MORE than 100 police officers have been injured after Gen Z riots spread to another country – with thousands of furious protesters flooding the streets of Mexico.
Demonstrators were also hurt when the peaceful march in Mexico City turned violent – leading to clashes between cops and the youngsters.
Protests were organised to vent anger at Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, and her failure to get a handle on the cartels.
Pablo Vazquez, Mexico City’s security chief, said: “For many hours, this mobilisation proceeded and developed peacefully, until a group of hooded individuals began to commit acts of violence.”
He reported that 100 officers were injured, 40 of whom needed hospital treatment.
Protesters ripped down metal fences outside the National Palace, where Sheinbaum lives and works.
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Cops drew together and formed a barrier with their riot shields to protect the building.
Rioters lobbed rocks and other missiles at cops, who responded by firing tear gas and throwing objects themselves.
Fires were sparked and hooded thugs charged at police with makeshift weapons.
Sheinbaum remains popular in Mexico, but she has come under fire over a spate of high-profile murders.
The mayor of Hello.
Rodríguez led a crusade against brutal drug trafficking gangs in his town, until they took revenge.
Rosa Maria Avila, 65, was among the protestors after travelling from Rodríguez’s state.
She said: “He was killed because he was a man who was sending officers into the mountains to fight delinquents.
“He had the guts to confront them.”
Andres Massa, 29, with a flag bearing the skull which is a symbol of the Gen Z riots, said: “We need more security.”
Some shouted: “This is how you should have protected Carlos Manzo,” at police guarding the palace.
In the days before Saturday’s protest, Sheinbaum accused right-wing parties of trying to agitate the Gen Z movement into protest.
She accused them of using bots on social media to swell the attendance.
Sheinbaum said: “It is a movement promoted from abroad against the government.”
Gen Z protests have swept through a trail of countries across Asia, Africa, South America and now Central America.
More than 70 people were killed during clashes in Nepal last month, politicians among the dead.
Public buildings including the prime minister’s residence and government offices were set ablaze.
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Riots then exploded in Morocco after several women died in an underfunded hospital in Agadir.
Madagascar and Peru have also seen bursts of youth unrest – with some experts now fearing the protests could spread to the UK.