Portuguese police dismantle housing protest camps, arrest over 30

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 25 Oct, 15:56 · Archive

Police in Portugal have dismantled housing protest camps in Lisbon and Porto early on Sunday, baton-charging demonstrators and arresting more than 30 people.

Police in Portugal dismantled housing protest camps in Lisbon and Porto in early-morning operations on Sunday, baton-charging demonstrators and arresting more than 30 people. The camps, which included more than 100 tents in Lisbon's Rossio Square and about 50 in Porto's Dom João I Square, had been set up after thousands of protesters marched on Saturday along one of Lisbon's main avenues to demonstrate against the country's deepening housing crisis.

Police said the operations were proportionate and that they had earlier warned protesters to leave. Al Jazeera reported that 25 people arrested in Lisbon were released and due in court on Monday. The Guardian reported that 31 people in total were arrested for disobedience and 171 structures were removed. Police reported seven minor injuries among officers and protesters, though the activist group Casa para Viver disputed this, saying more than 20 people were hurt.

The group said police used dogs, batons and rubber bullets. Casa para Viver called the early-morning timing a 'political decision' showing the government would rather repress those protesting the housing crisis than address it. The organisation has called for a fresh protest outside parliament on Tuesday. Portugal faces one of Europe's most acute home affordability crises, with house prices more than doubling since 2017 and rents for new leases nearly doubling, affecting young people particularly hard.

How it is being reported

• Police in Portugal ‘use dogs and batons’ to dismantle housing protest campsMore than 30 people arrested as officers clear at least 100 tents in central Lisbon and about 50 in Porto Police in Portugal have dismantled housing protest camps in Lisbon and Porto, baton-charging campaigners in the early hours of Sunday and arresting more than 30 people. The raids were the latest incident in days of clashes between police and campaigners who – inspired by similar camps in Spain – had sought to pitch tents in central squares to protest against the country’s deepening housing crisis. Continue reading...Guardian World · 25 Oct, 15:32
• Portuguese police clear Lisbon housing protest camp, arrest 25Officers baton-charge demonstrators in overnight operation as activists demand government action on housing crisis.Al Jazeera · 25 Oct, 13:29

In this story: Portugal · Lisbon · Porto · Casa para Viver · Bank of Portugal · Spain

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