Portugal police raid Lisbon and Porto housing protest camps, 13 arrested
Police stormed housing protest camps in Lisbon and Porto early Sunday, using batons and dogs, arresting 13 and injuring dozens amid Portugal's affordable-hou...
POLICY WIRE — Lisbon, Portugal — Police units moved into housing protest encampments in Lisbon and Porto just after dawn on Sunday, deploying batons and canine teams while detaining 13 demonstrators.
The operation came a week after a similar clearance in Lisbon drew criticism from activists and rights organisations, who said officers used shields and batons to disperse a tent settlement.
Protesters are pressing for affordable housing solutions as the nation grapples with a deepening housing shortage.
Authorities described the early-morning raid as a necessary step to restore order, noting the use of crowd-control equipment and dogs to break up the camps.
Dozens of participants reported injuries during the clashes, and the 13 arrested individuals were taken into custody for further processing.
The latest confrontations highlight escalating tensions over housing policy across Portugal.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
