Tension and clashes between protesters and police outside real estate fair The District

The first day of the latest edition of real estate investors' fair The District on Wednesday has begun with clashes between groups of protesters against the event and police officers.

Over 100 housing activists tried to access The District but were met with a police cordon outside the Europa Fira train station.

Activists for the right to housing were also joined by environmentalist groups and unions. 

Clashes were seen at previous editions of the fair, leading the police to make a cordon further from the doors of the congress halls.

The protesters shouted slogans like 'Speculators out of our neighborhoods'.

Police sources have informed that one activist was arrested and 64 people were identified.

The Tenants' Union says it does not know the reason for the arrest and claims that it took place after the protest was called off.

Additionally, the union pointed out that ten people were left injured by "the disproportionate use of police violence."

After the protest outside the congress hall where The District was taking place, the demonstrators then went to the Administrative District of the Catalan government, located nearby. 

The group entered shouting slogans in favor of the right to housing and some went to the first floor of the building where they demanded to speak to a government official.

General director of The District, Albert Planas, assured that they respect "all protests" and was open to giving a voice to entities such as the Tenants' Union so that they know first-hand the proposals of investors looking to put money into affordable housing.

Planas also said that he is concerned that the right to demonstration could allow attendees to be attacked.

In this sense, he appreciated that the Mossos d'Esquadra have taken "more initiative" to avoid scenes like those of last year when some visitors were attacked with paint.

Affordable housing "a social need"

At the event, the real estate sector responded to the protests seen outside the event that the answer to the problem is public-private collaboration.

Financial director of the promoter AEDAS Homes, María José Leal, remarked that affordable housing is "a social need."

"It's clear that we have a problem and we are not solving it," the CEO of the consulting firm Cushman & Wakefield, Oriol Barrachina, said.

The sector reiterated that more available land is needed and urged administrations to do "their part of the job."