Protests in Spain for housing rights, activist camp cleared out in Madrid

Police dismantled a tent camp of housing rights activists in Madrid overnight. This was reported by the authorities and the activists themselves, who had set up tents just over five weeks ago in a square in the heart of the Spanish capital. “The eviction of the Puerta del Sol camp took place without incidents or episodes of violence,” Madrid city government sources said, reporting that 334 people had been removed and two arrested. In a Telegram post, protest organizers called it "a violent police operation" that left several injured due to "beatings" and the use of tear gas.

The police operation

"The device involved 220 officers from the national police and 180 from the municipal police of Madrid, with the support of the firefighters and social services", specified the government delegation, expressing satisfaction with "an operation that allowed the eviction to be completed without violent disturbances of public order". Much of the square - an area popular with tourists - was closed by the police while cleaning operations in the area were underway. The housing crisis, one of the main concerns of Spaniards, returned to the center of public debate at the end of September following the eviction of Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old pensioner from Madrid who died a few days later. The episode sparked a wave of demonstrations, including the setting up of this protest camp. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called early legislative elections for November 29 after failing to get Parliament to approve two measures aimed at curbing these problems.