The confrontation occurred in the early hours of Sunday, November 1, 2026, when officers moved to dismantle protest camps at Rossio Square in Lisbon and Dom João I Square in Porto.

The camps were established on Saturday night after demonstrations calling on the Portuguese government to address soaring rents, rising property prices and housing affordability challenges.

According to the Portuguese Public Security Police, six people were arrested in Lisbon and seven in Porto for allegedly refusing orders to disperse.

The police also reported that 13 officers sustained injuries during the operations, with eight taken to hospital for medical attention. The authorities said an unspecified number of civilians were also injured.

However, protest organisers disputed the police account of the operation's impact. Organisers in Porto reported 38 injured protesters, including three who they said sustained serious injuries, while the Lisbon group reported more than 30 people injured.

The police said some demonstrators threw bottles and paint during the confrontation, while officers maintained that the operations were conducted with respect for citizens' rights and public order.

The authorities also confirmed the removal of 69 camping structures in Lisbon and 30 in Porto.

The latest confrontation has attracted criticism from housing campaigners and legal representatives of the protesters. A lawyer representing demonstrators in Lisbon, Ricardo Sá Fernandes, announced plans to file a criminal complaint against Interior Minister Luís Neves and the national police chief over alleged abuse of power.

The lawyer described the police operation as unacceptable and questioned the level of force used against the demonstrators.

Interior Minister Neves expressed sadness over the events but defended the authorities' response, maintaining that the camps should not remain in the public squares and that police had a responsibility to enforce public order.

The protests are linked to opposition to proposed housing legislation by Portugal's minority centre-right government. Demonstrators want the administration to abandon measures they believe could make evictions easier and remove rent protections for new tenancy agreements.

They argue that the proposed changes could worsen the housing crisis and make accommodation increasingly unaffordable for ordinary residents.

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has acknowledged the sharp increase in property prices over the years but has rejected calls to completely withdraw the proposed legislation, indicating that amendments could still be considered.

Portugal has been facing mounting pressure over housing affordability, with rising property prices and rental costs making it increasingly difficult for many residents, particularly young people, to secure accommodation.

The latest demonstrations reflect growing public frustration over the cost of housing and the government's proposed response to the crisis.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia