Fiery chaos gripped Spain as a massive nationwide strike over soaring housing costs devolved into violent clashes between protesters and riot police. In Barcelona, demonstrators smashed storefronts along a popular shopping boulevard, ignited bonfires, and launched fireworks at officers, transforming a largely peaceful march into scenes of urban unrest. This general strike, the first in 14 years, saw hundreds of thousands take to the streets in major cities like Barcelona and Madrid, demanding urgent relief from skyrocketing rents and the escalating cost of living. The widespread walkout severely disrupted public transportation, forced numerous businesses to shutter, and blocked key roadways, with police responding with arrests and pepper spray. The unrest highlights a deepening housing crisis, exacerbated by high-profile evictions and a surge in rental prices, which has become a critical political flashpoint ahead of upcoming elections, even as the government faces accusations of exploiting the situation for electoral gain.
Adapted from: Latest World News on Fox News
