Tension has again set in on Madrid’s Gran Vía after the demonstration in defense of the right to housing held as part of the general strike day, with new police charges at the level of Plaza España and the arrest of a 46-year-old man.
After 21:00, groups of young people have confronted the officers, who have intervened to disperse any start of altercation and stop the throwing of objects with a first charge at the intersection between Plaza España and Gran Vía, the same point where, in the morning, other police interventions had already taken place.
As witnesses present to Europa Press have indicated, the Police used pepper spray against those gathered, who responded by burning trash containers. The incidents began to spread to nearby streets around Plaza España, such as Callao, Preciados, Pez and San Bernardo, generating scenes of great tension throughout the area.
The Delegation of the Government in Madrid has estimated that 120,000 people participated in the march convened to demand more affordable access to housing and higher wages, while the Sindicato de Inquilinas, one of the organizing entities, has raised attendance to up to 600,000 protesters. It is the first general strike convened by CCOO and UGT since 2012 and also the first one held during Pedro Sánchez’s term as president of the Government.