Barcelona residents protesting against high rents clashed with police outside a real estate fair and government office.

(September 25 2024) Catalan regional police charged at housing rights protesters attempting to enter an international real estate fair in Barcelona on Wednesday. The protesters threw coloured powder at the Mossos d’Esquadra regional police before folding back into a nearby subway station. The demonstration to place outside “The District” real estate fair, an international event for investors. Barcelona, like other major touristic destinations in Spain, is facing a housing crisis that has triggered anti-tourism protests as locals blame the rise in housing costs on the proliferation of tourist apartments available on platforms such as AirBnb and Booking.com.