Barcelona Housing Protest Ends in Clashes and Arrests as Thousands Demand Right to Housing

Tensìon and violence erupted in central Barcelona late Monday evening, October 5, when clashes broke out between police forces and protesters following a massive demonstration for housing rights. The article mentions that what began as hours of peaceful protest concluded with street barricades, fires, and police charges at the intersection of Gran Via and Passeig de Gràcia. Authorities recorded at least 13 arrests, dozens of minor injuries among law enforcement, and widespread property damage across the Catalan capital.

Thousands March in Barcelona Despite Weather Delays

The mobilization brought thousands of people into the streets of Barcelona, though official tallies varied widely between organizers and local authorities. The Barcelona City Council estimated the turnout at 20,000 participants, while organizers placed the figure at 120,000. The march was originally scheduled for the previous Saturday but was postponed due to severe weather warnings. Protesters gathered under the banner “Cap a la vaga general. Això tot just comença!” (“Toward the general strike. This is just beginning!”) starting at Plaça Urquinaona, before advancing past Ronda Sant Pere, Arc de Triomf, Passeig de Sant Joan, Plaça Tetuan, and Gran Via, ultimately concluding at Passeig de Gràcia. The demonstration coincided with broader political fallout in Spain, following the Congress of Deputies voting down housing decrees supported by the left-wing bloc and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announcing a snap general election for November 29.

Clashes and Barricades at Gran Via and Passeig de Gràcia

The situation deteriorated sharply after the official conclusion of the march around 21:30 local time. Around 21:30, with the manifestation already disconvoked, part of the demonstrators had still not left the area. Clashes intensified around 22:15 at the junction of Passeig de Gràcia and Gran Via, where demonstrators hurled glass bottles and chairs from bar terraces at a police cordon. Groups of largely youthful protesters—many of them hooded—ignited bonfires, threw stones, pyrotechnics, and urban furniture, and broke shop windows. In response, the Mossos d’Esquadra deployed riot control units from the Brimo, utilizing baton strikes, foam projectile launchers, and police charges to disperse the crowds. Agents of the police cordon responded with baton blows to the legs that dissuaded the initiative. The regional police force calculated that demonstrators constructed 28 barricades throughout the night using construction debris, fences, and trash containers. Firefighters extinguished 22 fires across the city center, while 28 police officers sustained minor injuries.

Trade Unions Back Housing Strike for November

Diverse participants in the march included students and even homeowners paying off 30-year mortgages who joined in solidarity. Prior to the march, major trade unions CCOO and UGT announced they would back a general strike for housing set for November, joining the CGT and various tenant organizations. Carme Arcarazo, spokesperson for the Sindicat de Llogateres, urged workers to unite for the upcoming strike, stating that participants face a powerful adversary. From the PAH, Juanjo Ramón celebrated that the streets had awakened, believing it to be a window of opportunity and a framework of hope for everyone who has lost housing in recent years. Gisela Bermúdez, spokesperson for the Sindicat d’Habitatge Socialista de Catalunya, harshly criticized all political leaders, stating that no party genuinely wants to put an end to the housing crisis because no party wants to break with the housing business. Marta Espriu, spokesperson for the union, added that President Illa also bears responsibility in the management of the situation.

Police Detain 13 People After Midnight Clashes

Police containment operations continued past midnight as roving groups of protesters formed new friction points around Plaça Catalunya, Pelai, La Rambla, Balmes, and Canaletes. Law enforcement detained at least 13 individuals for public disorder offences, including one minor, following numerous identity checks. Officers managed to encircle remaining activists in Plaça Catalunya—where a continuous housing protest camp remains active—pushing them toward the center of the square and sealing off access points. The operation finally wound down after midnight, leaving behind a heavily charred city center where municipal street cleaners and firefighters worked through the early hours to clear debris and extinguish lingering hotspots.

Government Seeks to Approve Housing Decrees Again

Parallel to the electoral announcement, government sources indicated that the executive intends to approve the two housing decrees again in the Council of Ministers after they were rejected by Congress. Once the Cortes are dissolved, the initiatives must be validated by the Permanent Deputation, which would hold the necessary majorities to approve one of the two decrees with the votes of the PSOE, Sumar, ERC, Bildu, PNB, and Podem.