Video: @sindicatlloguer, @carmearca / IG
Protest Turns Tense After Hours of Peaceful Action
About 2,500 people gathered on Monday 28 September 2026 along Avinguda Diagonal in Barcelona to protest the ongoing housing emergency, culminating in a demonstration in front of the Palau de Congressos. The event remained peaceful for most of the day, but tensions flared at around 21:00 when several demonstrators began throwing projectiles at police and attempted to breach security cordons. The Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police force, reported that public order units were deployed after repeated warnings failed to deter the actions. Two individuals, a man and a woman of legal age, were arrested for public disorder and assault. No injuries were reported.
Coordinated Actions Across the City
The protest on Diagonal was part of a wider day of action organised by the Sindicat de Llogateres de Catalunya (Tenants' Union of Catalonia). Earlier that morning, groups of activists blocked key roads including Avinguda Meridiana near Hipercor, the Carretera de Sants, and Carrer Còrsega. Their aim was to disrupt traffic at strategic points across the city, coinciding with a visit by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. At around 08:00, a group attempted to reach Avinguda Diagonal from Carrer Còrsega but were intercepted by a rapid deployment of Mossos officers, preventing full closure of the major thoroughfare at that time.
Evening Rally Draws Crowds
The main rally began at 19:00 at the Palau de Congressos, where protesters demanded structural housing reforms, indefinite rental contracts, and a ban on evictions. Enric Aragonès, spokesperson for the Sindicat de Llogateres, stated in a pre-protest video that the movement rejects what they call "fake decrees" and demands real change. The demonstration followed heightened national attention on housing after the forced eviction and death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Jordi in Madrid, which sparked a new wave of protests across Spain, including an encampment at Madrid's Puerta del Sol.
"We defend the right to assembly and to protest in public spaces,"Sílvia Catà, Commissioner-in-Chief of the Mossos d'Esquadra
Sílvia Catà, commissioner-in-chief of the Mossos d'Esquadra, confirmed on 28 September that the force was aware of planned mobilisations and reiterated their commitment to protecting the right to peaceful protest. In an interview with TV3, she stated the police are prepared to uphold public order while safeguarding freedom of expression. The Avinguda Diagonal remained closed for approximately four hours during the protest. No further incidents were reported after the arrests.
Reported by vilaweb.cat, metropoliabierta.cat, elnacional.cat, VilaWeb.
