European cities face fire and unrest after a weekend of violent protests

Protests spread across Europe

Demonstrations have erupted across Europe amid anger over the cost of living, a shortage of affordable homes and deteriorating school conditions. In Milan, young people waved Italian flags and set off flares as they protested rising prices.

Tens of thousands marched through central Lisbon on Saturday over soaring living costs and a worsening housing crisis. In Albania, protests over university conditions, tuition fees and corruption entered a sixth consecutive day, with violent clashes reported on Sunday.

Clashes in Milan

On Sunday, several hundred hooded protesters clashed with police near Piazza Duomo, throwing stones, breaking shop windows and setting bins alight. Police in riot gear used tear gas and water cannons; more than 60 protesters were detained for checks, sources told Reuters.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence and announced a government meeting for Monday to discuss the situation. She faces an election next year.

France sees mass marches

Nationwide protests in France have grown from student-led demonstrations that began last month over overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages. Authorities estimated that more than 500,000 people marched on Saturday, including 110,000 in Paris; organisers put the total closer to 800,000.

Most marched peacefully, but violent groups targeted public buildings, looted shops and attacked police vehicles and officers. The government said more than 2,400 people were arrested and nearly 1,000 officers injured. President Emmanuel Macron appealed for calm on Sunday, as police fired tear gas in Paris and protesters set fire to piles of bicycles.

Housing anger in Spain

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called a snap general election for 29 November last month after parliament rejected government proposals to address the housing crisis. The demonstrations followed weeks of unrest.

Pressure over living costs

In Lisbon, protesters said low wages were not keeping pace with housing costs and other rising expenses, leaving many struggling to make ends meet. The protest came after police cleared a housing activists’ tent camp in Porto in a pre-dawn operation on Monday.

Across the protests, concerns ranged from housing and public services to schools and universities. The article reports both peaceful marches and violent clashes, with authorities responding to disorder in several cities.