Two people were killed and others injured in 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-defense, 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, opens new tab 263 members of security forces and 23 civilians were injured during Tuesday's clashes.

WAVE OF YOUTH ANGER

On Wednesday night, violence spread to Salé, near the capital Rabat, where groups of young men in densely populated neighborhoods hurled stones at police, looted shops, set banks ablaze, and torched police vehicles, according to witnesses.

In Tangier, on the Strait of Gibraltar, young men threw stones at security forces.

Smaller towns in the Souss region near Agadir saw for the second consecutive night some of the most intense unrest. In Sidi Bibi, masked youths burned the commune headquarters and blocked a main road, said local resident Hassan Berkouz.

South of Agadir in Biougra, a bank was ransacked and shops damaged.

"I was in the cafe watching PSG vs Real Madrid match when young men started hurling stones at shops. We watched the game still inside the closed cafe," Abdeslam Chegri, a local civil society activist, said.

Morocco's tourist hub Marrakech saw violent clashes as protesters burned a police station, according to local media LeDesk.

The recent wave of youth anger was sparked by earlier protests in Agadir over poor hospital conditions, which quickly spread to other cities.

In Taroudant, usually a quiet town east of Agadir, demonstrators clashed with security forces, attacked shops and burned cars.

By contrast, peaceful demonstrations were held in Casablanca, Morocco's economic capital, and in the eastern cities of Oujda and Taza.

Protesters there called for Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch to resign and chanted slogans such as “The people want an end to corruption."

Morocco's unemployment rate stands at 12.8%, with youth unemployment reaching 35.8% and 19% among graduates, according to the national statistics agency.

While Morocco has seen recurring peaceful protests over economic and social grievances, this week's unrest is the most violent since the 2016–2017 demonstrations in the northern Rif region.

Earlier in the day, the Interior Ministry said it would uphold the right to protest within legal boundaries and pledged to respond with "restraint and self-control, avoiding provocation."

On Tuesday, in posts on social media sites discussing the protests, the "GenZ 212" group said it rejected violence and was committed to continuing peaceful protests. It said it had no conflict with the security forces, only with the government.

So far, 409 people have been taken into police custody following the unrest and 193 will face trial - mostly on bail - on charges including arson, ransacking, attacking security forces, according to the prosecutor.