Portuguese police clear housing protest camps in Lisbon and Porto and make arrests

Summary

Portuguese police cleared housing protest camps in Lisbon and Porto in overnight and early-hours operations on Sunday, dismantling tent camps that activists had pitched in central squares to protest the country's deepening housing crisis. Al Jazeera reported that officers baton-charged demonstrators and arrested 25 people as activists demanded government action on housing. The Guardian reported that officers used dogs and batons, cleared at least 100 tents in central Lisbon and about 50 in Porto, and arrested more than 30 people, describing the raids as the latest incident in days of clashes between police and campaigners inspired by similar camps in Spain. Euronews reported that several arrests and injuries were reported as police again moved in against the camps. The Straits Times reported the clearance and arrests and placed the action against Portugal's struggle with one of Europe's most acute home affordability crises. The arrest figures differ between the reports.

Timeline

1. The Straits Times

   25 Oct 2026, 03:35 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports that Portuguese police cleared a housing protest camp in Lisbon and made arrests, placing the action against Portugal's struggle with one of Europe's most acute home affordability crises.

2. Al Jazeera

   25 Oct 2026, 13:29 UTCSource ↗

   Al Jazeera reports that police cleared a housing protest camp in Lisbon in an overnight operation, baton-charging demonstrators and arresting 25, as activists demanded government action on the housing crisis.

3. The Guardian

   25 Oct 2026, 15:32 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that police in Portugal used dogs and batons in the early hours of Sunday to dismantle housing protest camps, clearing at least 100 tents in central Lisbon and about 50 in Porto and arresting more than 30 people.

4. Euronews

   25 Oct 2026, 15:52 UTCSource ↗

   Euronews reports that police again moved in against protest camps in Lisbon and Porto in the early hours of Sunday, with several arrests and injuries reported, as protesters demanded affordable housing.