13 Arrested as Barcelona Housing Protests Turn Violent

Violent clashes erupted in central Barcelona as thousands took to the streets to protest the region’s escalating housing crisis and soaring rents. Organized by local tenants’ unions, demonstrators demanded guaranteed access to affordable housing and called for a general strike against real estate speculation. The rally turned chaotic late in the evening when hooded groups erected burning barricades and pelted authorities with stones and glass bottles. Catalan police responded with foam bullets, dispersing the crowds through major landmarks like Plaça Catalunya and La Rambla. By midnight, authorities confirmed that 13 people were detained and 30 police officers had sustained injuries during the unrest.