Incidents During an Eviction in Mataró
An eviction carried out this Tuesday in the Cerdanyola neighbourhood of Mataró has triggered a series of incidents that left five Mossos d’Esquadra officers injured and three minors arrested. The operation, which began early in the morning on Gatassa Avenue, was surrounded by a gathering of approximately fifty people attempting to prevent the eviction of a family with four children.
According to the Mossos d’Esquadra, some protesters threw objects such as stones and bottles at the law enforcement officers, leading to the intervention of the ARRO group to disperse the crowd. Amid the chaos, five police officers sustained minor injuries and there was damage to their equipment. The situation escalated quickly when three minors were arrested for assaulting the officers.
The Mataró Housing Syndicate has described the police action as “disproportionate” and “violent.” According to this organisation, foam projectiles were used during the operation and several people were injured, including women who required medical attention. Alarmingly, one of the detainees is a minor daughter of the evicted family.
The affected family consists of a couple and their four minor children, aged between 1 and 16 years. After paying their mortgage until the economic crisis of 2008, the home went through a foreclosure process. In recent weeks, they have unsuccessfully tried to find alternative housing amid the skyrocketing rental prices.
This incident is not isolated; according to the Housing Syndicate, this is already the fourth eviction recorded in Cerdanyola in just one week. The organisation warns of a growing climate of tension related to the current housing crisis. Despite the temporary support offered by the City Council to this family, they criticise the lack of a stable housing solution.
The controversy has also reached the local political arena. The CUP has announced its intention to request explanations from the Department of Interior regarding the police actions carried out during the eviction and will insist that both Minister Parlon and other officials appear to clarify the use of projectiles during the disturbances.
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