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[INTERNATIONAL] · Spain · 68 sources

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Madrid police clear Puerta del Sol housing protest camp

Spanish authorities conducted a large-scale operation in the early hours of Tuesday to dismantle a protest camp in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol. The encampment, which had been occupied for over five weeks, was established by activists protesting the housing crisis and rising rental costs following the death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal after an eviction.

The operation involved approximately 400 officers, including 220 from the National Police and 180 from the Municipal Police, alongside firefighters and social services. Officials reported that 334 people were removed from the site, and two individuals were arrested for alleged disobedience and resistance to authority.

While government officials described the intervention as gradual and non-violent, aimed at restoring public order, protest organizers alleged that the police used pepper spray and physical force, claiming several individuals were injured. Following the clearance, municipal teams worked to remove approximately 36 tons of debris and materials from the plaza.

Police also seized various items during the operation, including knives, hammers, extensible batons, and other blunt objects, which the Union Federal de Policía (UFP) noted raised questions regarding the previously assumed peaceful nature of the settlement.

Entities

Government Delegation in Madrid · Isabel Díaz Ayuso · Madrid · Madrid Municipal Police · Maricarmen Abascal · Municipal Police · Municipal Police of Madrid · National Police · Pedro Sánchez · Pilar Trinidad · Puerta del Sol · Spanish National Police

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