Portuguese police cleared protest camps in Lisbon and Porto early on Sunday, arresting 13 people after demonstrations against a controversial rental bill.

At around 4:30 a.m. local time, officers moved in to dismantle tents in Lisbon’s Rossio Square and Porto’s Dom João I Square, where protesters had gathered following peaceful marches on Saturday. Police used shields and batons, while some demonstrators threw bottles and paint. Six arrests occurred in Lisbon and seven in Porto, with 13 officers injured, eight of whom required hospital treatment. An unspecified number of civilians were also hurt, according to a police statement .

Activist group Acampada Lisboa reported over 30 protesters injured, including 10 hospitalized, and condemned the operation as excessive. The group called for a fresh rally in Lisbon on Sunday afternoon, declaring, “We will not be silenced” . A lawyer for detained protesters in Porto described the police response as disproportionate, citing the scale of the operation and the tactics used .

The protests targeted a government bill that would ease evictions and remove rent caps on new leases, measures critics argue will worsen Portugal’s housing crisis. House prices have more than doubled since 2017. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has ruled out withdrawing the bill but acknowledged possible modifications before a final vote .

In Porto, police said three plain-clothes officers were assaulted after being identified by protesters, with one officer drawing a firearm as a deterrent. Authorities seized 69 tents in Lisbon and 30 in Porto .

President António José Seguro requested detailed information from the government about the operation and the condition of those detained and injured . A lawyer representing protesters in Lisbon announced plans to file a criminal complaint against the interior minister and the national police chief for abuse of power .