Spain protests turn violent
Nine people have been arrested in Bilbao, Spain, after violent clashes broke out following protests against a planned appearance by far-right activist Vito Quiles. Fires engulfed cars and rubbish containers as riot police confronted demonstrators in the Deusto neighbourhood after the event was cancelled over security concerns.The Bilbao clashes occurred amid wider protests across Spain over housing affordability and the rising cost of living. The latest nationwide housing demonstrations began in late September following the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid home on September 23. The case drew public attention to rising rents, evictions and a shortage of affordable housing.Video footage circulating on social media on Monday showed hooded protesters moving through the streets, fires burning and barricades blocking roads.
At least six cars, several rubbish containers and a municipal police motorcycle were damaged, while firefighters responded to multiple blazes. According to Spanish newspaper El Constitucional, the Basque government’s security department provided the provisional arrest count.
The unrest erupted on Monday after earlier demonstrations against Quiles’ scheduled 7 pm appearance near the University of Deusto.
Authorities said a group moved towards the Deusto police station, throwing stones and setting fire to the municipal police motorcycle. The security department alleged that those involved deliberately sought to cause disturbances despite knowing that the event had been cancelled.Quiles announced the cancellation in a post on X, saying he had spoken to the head of the police operation, who warned of a “very high” risk of incidents.In the same post, he accused protesters of being “former ETA members, street terrorists, and other criminals”, without providing evidence for the allegations. He also called demonstrators “scum” and said: “We will return to Bilbao. But after responding to them on 29N as they deserve.”
Earlier, Quiles had described the response to his planned visit as “an unprecedented success”, claiming the mobilisation had brought “a lot of lazy people out of bed”.Protests began in the morning, when thousands of students marched through central Bilbao in a demonstration organised by Ikasle Antolakunde Sozialista (IAS). A second mobilisation took place in the afternoon, with demonstrators opposing what organisers described as the normalisation of sexist, racist and classist discourse.The University of Deusto suspended activities from 2 pm (local time) and closed its campus preventively at 3 pm (local time), following police instructions.
The institution said the event had been organised externally, had not been authorised on campus and was not supported by the university.
Wider tensions and investigation
On September 26, around 25,000 people protested in Madrid, according to the regional government delegation, while demonstrations and protest camps spread to other cities. The protests intensified on October 2, when parliament rejected two emergency housing decrees proposed by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government.
The measures included stronger protections against evictions and tighter rules on rentals.
On October 3, demonstrations took place in around 50 cities, with protesters demanding affordable housing and greater tenant protection.Separately, authorities have raised concerns about extremist online messages allegedly encouraging attacks on police and crowds during demonstrations, Euronews reported, citing El País.