Morocco Gen Z protests turn deadly, 2 killed

Two people were killed and others injured in the Moroccan town of Lqliaa, near Agadir, when security forces used firearms to prevent a group of individuals from stealing their weapons on Wednesday night, local authorities said, in an incident that marks a deadly turn in anti-government protests that initially rallied for social justice reforms.

The protests, which began Saturday with demands for better education and healthcare, have been organised online by a loosely formed, anonymous youth group calling itself "GenZ 212". The group has used platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and the gaming app Discord to mobilise support.

Security forces had to use firearms in self-defence after tear gas failed to stop the group from storming into the security forces (gendarmerie) facility, local authorities said.

Armed with knives, the group managed to set fire to a part of the facility and to a vehicle, forcing security forces to use firearms in self-defence, said local authorities, who did not specify how many were injured.

The GenZ 212 movement is inspired by similar youth-led protests in Asia and Latin America. Membership in GenZ 212’s Discord server surged from around 3,000 last week to more than 130,000 today, reflecting the rapid growth of the youth-led protest movement.

Authorities initially responded with attempts to quash the rallies, but the demonstrations escalated into widespread unrest on Tuesday night. Reuters images showed security forces encircling protesters forcefully hauling them into vans.

The Interior Ministry said 263 members of security forces and 23 civilians were injured during Tuesday's clashes.