Madrid Housing Protest Camp Co-Opted by Radical Groups, Sparks Police Clashes
A Madrid housing protest camp has reportedly been co-opted by radical groups including PFLP-linked Samidoun, sparking violent clashes, police injuries, and threats against regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso.
A housing protest camp in Puerta del Sol, central Madrid, has been taken over by radical left-wing groups, including activists from Samidoun, an organization linked to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), according to Spanish media reports on Thursday. According to the OKDIARIO report, police sources warn that following the departure of prominent figures from the Tenants' Union who originally led the housing campaign, the camp fell under the control of extremist factions. Palestinian flags are now visible, and Samidoun activists reportedly roam the compound wearing shirts bearing the organization's name and keffiyehs.
Escalation and Police Clashes
Warnings regarding the radicalization of the camp come amid a series of violent incidents. The JUPOL police union, described as the largest union within the Spanish police force, claims that the situation in the square has deteriorated significantly, with both police officers and journalists targeted for attacks. According to union spokeswoman Laura García, a severe incident took place on Monday night when municipal police officers stationed at the Montera street post were forced to barricade themselves inside following assaults and had to request reinforcements from the National Police.
Later, youths summoned police claiming that individuals inside the camp were attempting to attack them. When officers tried to detain one of the suspects, García stated, his companions knocked an officer to the ground and began kicking him. Others subsequently pulled the suspect back into the camp, preventing his arrest. Four police officers sustained injuries during the incident, including one struck in the head by a bottle, another injured in the leg, and a third suffering a wrist laceration.
Threats and Political Tensions
Meanwhile, Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office on Wednesday, demanding an investigation into death threats directed against her and damage to protected property. The complaint details insults, graffiti bearing slogans such as "Ayuso, die" and "We will burn Ayuso's penthouse," a cardboard coffin featuring her photograph, and a sign referring to her as "Israel Díaz Ayuso." Despite these developments and police grievances, Francisco Martín Aguirre, the government's representative in Madrid, continues to describe the camp as "peaceful," maintaining that police instructions are to preserve public order without evacuating the site.
