The US Embassy in Lisbon today issued a security alert recommending caution to US citizens due to protests against the housing crisis in Lisbon and Porto. The protests, which include demonstrations and camps, have generated tension and police actions, with more than 20 wounded.
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01/11/2026
by
Lusa
A uS embassy in Lisbon today issued a security alert recommending caution to US citizens due to protests against the housing crisis in Lisbon and Porto.
“Protests and demonstrations about housing and cost of living are taking place in Portugal, including Lisbon and Porto. Groups called for continued protests and recently police responded with crowd control methods, including tear gas,” said the US diplomatic representation in Lisbon, published on social networks.
The embassy warns that the route of the demonstrations is subject to authorisation, but “there may be last-minute changes” and “protests may occur outside the planned routes”.
In the message, the embassy recommends to US citizens to avoid Rossio Square in Lisbon and Dom João I Square in Porto.
It also calls for attention and caution in the vicinity of large agglomerations or protests and for the situation to follow through the local press.
Since October 10, demonstrations have taken place in the country against the housing crisis, of which some involved camps that were demobilized by the police.
Early today there was another police charge: the PSP dispersed the camped by the right to housing in Rossio, in Lisbon, and in Praça D. João I, in Porto, removing about 100 tents.
The intervention culminated in police charges and throwing objects, causing more than two dozen wounded between demonstrators and police.
The police action motivated a request for clarification from the President of the Republic, António José Seguro, the Government and the Ombudsman, and the announcement of a criminal complaint, by a lawyer, for abuse of power against the Minister of the Internal Administration and the director of the PSP.
The protesters demand the reversal of the new rental law, the end of demolitions and evictions without an alternative housing, a stop to the purchase of housing by real estate funds, the increase in public housing, the recovery of vacant buildings for housing purposes and ceilings “truely accessible” to income.