A peaceful protest over Spain's housing crisis escalated into clashes with law enforcement, leaving 28 police officers injured, reports infohub.kz.
According to NUR.KZ, citing RIA Novosti, which in turn referenced El Pais, in Barcelona after a peaceful demonstration ended, police ordered participants to disperse. Instead, people began throwing glass bottles and other objects at officers and setting fire to garbage containers.
"Police detained 13 people, including a minor. 28 police officers sustained minor injuries," the publication said.
Demonstrations have been ongoing in Spain for several days over the housing crisis. They began after the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, who had lived in the same apartment in Madrid for decades. Her case became a symbol of the protest movement, leading to an encampment and similar actions spreading to other cities.
New protests erupted after the lower house of parliament rejected two decrees with housing measures. Demonstrators demand lower rents, indefinite contracts, and the seizure of housing from so-called vulture funds. For example, last Saturday, actions took place in more than dozens of cities across the country. In Madrid, according to the government, about 70,000 people took part in the demonstration, though organizers claimed 500,000.
Recall that earlier, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced early elections amid protests over housing costs and conflict with the parliamentary opposition.