In the early hours of October 15, 2026, at approximately 2:56 AM, Portuguese police intervened to dismantle a housing-rights encampment in Praça D. João I, in the centre of Porto, Portugal.

According to the protest organisers, 37 people were injured, including two seriously, following what they describe as an extremely violent and unjustified police intervention.

The protesters had been occupying the square to draw attention to Portugal’s worsening housing crisis and demand access to affordable housing and dignified living conditions.

What makes this particularly concerning is the discrepancy between the police’s reported justification and the protesters’ account of what happened.

According to the organisers, demonstrators complied with police instructions and peacefully dismantled all their tents before the police intervention unit arrived and allegedly used excessive force against them.

The organisers explicitly dispute reports suggesting that police used force because protesters refused to remove their tents. They insist that the violence occurred after all tents had already been removed.
They also allege that officers destroyed or discarded personal belongings, including phones, wallets, backpacks, food and camping equipment.

In a subsequent statement, the organisers claimed that police continued destroying property after clearing the square, including a public toilet that protesters say they had been maintaining and cleaning throughout the occupation.

The organisers also accuse Porto’s mayor, Pedro Duarte, of ordering the operation without attempting dialogue beforehand.

Why this deserves international attention
Portugal is experiencing a serious housing affordability crisis, particularly in cities such as Porto and Lisbon. For many residents, finding an affordable home in their own city has become increasingly difficult.

The encampment was organised to draw attention to this crisis. According to its participants, they had been sleeping outdoors for days, providing free meals and cultural activities, and maintaining the public space.

Regardless of one’s position on the occupation of the square, the allegations of excessive force, the reported injuries and the conflicting accounts of what happened raise serious questions about police accountability, proportionality and the right to peaceful assembly.

Portuguese media, including Euronews, have reported on the intervention. However, the circumstances surrounding the use of force and the full extent of the injuries require further independent investigation.

The organisers have published a 20-slide Instagram carousel documenting their account of the events, including visual material. They are also publicly requesting legal assistance.

Sources:
Original statement and visual documentation from the protest organisers, @acampadaporto:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DegYn-3jt_u/

Euronews coverage:
https://pt.euronews.com/2026/10/15/manifestantes-pelo-direito-a-habitacao-denunciam-carga-policial-com-dezenas-de-feridos-no-

I’m sharing this because what happened in Porto deserves wider international attention, independent scrutiny and transparency.