Clashes and Riots in Barcelona Following Massive Strike Protesting Housing Crisis and Cost of Living
Violent clashes and riots erupted in central Barcelona on Wednesday evening following a massive demonstration against soaring housing costs, held alongside Spain's first nationwide general strike since 2012.
- Violence erupted and burning barricades were set up in central Barcelona following a march against soaring housing costs, attended by between 55,000 and 400,000 people.
- Catalan police intervened to disperse rioters and arrested 20 people throughout the day, amid reports of vandalism and the looting of storefronts.
- The mobilization was part of Spain's first general strike since 2012, reflecting mounting public outrage over housing affordability and inflation that extends to other European countries, including France.
The Spanish city of Barcelona witnessed violent unrest and sharp clashes with riot police on the evening of Wednesday, November 11, following a massive march staged to protest record-high housing costs and deteriorating purchasing power. Security forces fired projectiles to disperse groups of hooded demonstrators after chaos spilled into several major thoroughfares across the city center.
Clashes and Vandalism in the Heart of Barcelona
The riots broke out shortly after 19:30, when small groups of hooded youths broke away from the main march, which had remained peaceful until that point. Protesters threw stones, bottles, and fireworks at police officers near Passeig de Gràcia and Plaça de Catalunya, set fire to trash containers and urban furniture to form blazing barricades, smashed shopfronts, and reportedly looted several stores.
Units of Catalonia's regional police, the Mossos d'Esquadra, intervened using batons and projectiles to disperse the groups as the unrest neared the famous La Rambla boulevard. The incidents resulted in the detention of 18 people during the clashes, bringing the total number of arrests recorded throughout the day to 20. For his part, Catalan Regional President Salvador Illa condemned the acts of violence, emphasizing that they did not reflect the true spirit of the peaceful demonstration, which municipal police estimated drew over 55,000 participants, while organizers placed the figure at around 400,000.
General Strike and Transnational Social Pressures
The unrest coincided with Spain's first 24-hour general strike since 2012, a nationwide walkout that trade unions reported mobilized roughly four million workers. The protests are part of a broader wave of public discontent over the housing affordability crisis, wage stagnation, and high inflation rates—socioeconomic challenges that have cast a shadow over several European countries in recent months, including France, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, and Germany. These escalating tensions on the ground place the Spanish government under significant political pressure, particularly with snap elections scheduled for November 29 fast approaching.
Source: Euronews (فرنسي)
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