Police dismantle housing protest camp in central Madrid

Summary

Police dismantled a sprawling tent camp in Madrid's Puerta del Sol square on Tuesday, according to city authorities, police and activists. The camp sprang up on September 26 after police evicted an 87-year-old pensioner from her lifelong home, whose real estate company had drastically raised the rent. The eviction sparked nationwide protests against runaway housing costs and a lack of tenant protections. RTÉ and the South China Morning Post report that the camp spearheaded protests over Spain's housing crisis for more than a month and prompted early elections. The Straits Times reports that most protesters had already left voluntarily before officers removed the remaining people and tents early on Tuesday, and that officers closed off much of the square while municipal cleaning staff swept away debris, tents and tarpaulin.

Timeline

1. Euronews

   3 Nov 2026, 07:43 UTCSource ↗

   Euronews reports that police dismantled an affordable housing protest camp in central Madrid, which city authorities said was removed, and that the camp sprang up on 26 September after police evicted an 87-year-old pensioner from her lifelong home when the owning real estate company drastically raised the rent.

2. Le Monde

   3 Nov 2026, 07:46 UTCSource ↗

   Le Monde reports that police dismantled a protest camp in the Puerta del Sol square, according to authorities and activists, and that the camp sprang up on September 26 after police evicted a retiree from her lifelong home, sparking nationwide protests against runaway housing costs and a lack of tenant protections.

3. The Straits Times

   3 Nov 2026, 08:01 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports that police dismantled a protest camp in Madrid, according to authorities and activists, and that the camp sprang up on September 26 to protest the country's housing crisis.

4. RTÉ

   3 Nov 2026, 09:15 UTCSource ↗

   RTÉ reports that police dismantled a sprawling tent camp in Madrid that had spearheaded protests over Spain's housing crisis for more than a month and prompted early elections, according to police and activists.

5. South China Morning Post

   3 Nov 2026, 10:28 UTCSource ↗

   The South China Morning Post reports that police on Tuesday dismantled a sprawling tent camp in Madrid that had spearheaded protests over Spain's housing crisis for more than a month and prompted early elections, and that officers closed off much of Puerta del Sol square while cleaning staff swept away debris, tents and tarpaulin.

6. The Straits Times

   3 Nov 2026, 10:47 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports that Spanish police removed the remaining protesters and tents from Madrid's main square early on Tuesday, after most of the people demonstrating against soaring rents, home shortages and evictions had already left voluntarily.