Key facts
- At least 37 protesters were injured, including two with fractures, during a police operation.
- Police intervened to remove demonstrators camping in Porto's Praca D. Joao I square.
- Protesters had been camping in the square since Saturday, pitching tents again on Wednesday.
- Porto's mayor had vowed to be 'absolutely ruthless' with any attempts to erect tents.
Dozens of housing rights protesters were reportedly injured early Thursday morning in Porto, Portugal, after police moved in to remove demonstrators who had been camping in Praca D. Joao I square. Organizers claimed at least 37 people were injured, including two who suffered fractures, denouncing the police operation as "disproportionate and unjustified."
Protesters had been in the square since Saturday, and had pitched tents again on Wednesday after a previous attempt by the city council to remove them. The Housing Movement stated that the camp had been peaceful from the outset. Porto's mayor, Pedro Duarte, had previously warned that camping would not be permitted in the city, stating that demonstrations cannot continue beyond 12:30 a.m. according to Portuguese law.