Demonstrators took to the streets across multiple European cities and capitals this weekend to protest the high cost of living in their countries.
Though the violence in Paris and other French cities claimed the headlines, thousands also showed up in Portugal, Italy, and Belgium. Demonstrators were arrested in large numbers — many people were seen in photos and videos clashing violently with police and looting local businesses.
Energy price hikes, caused at least in part by the US-Israeli war with Iran and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, have contributed to the rising prices. Other demonstrations in Belgium and France were begun by students and have since snowballed into larger-scale demonstrations, involving union workers and other organizations.
Here’s a look at the chaos that unfolded across the Atlantic this weekend, where peaceful protests eventually devolved into riots and looting.
Lisbon
In Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, people took to the streets on October 17 to protest the cost-of-living crisis, low wages, and unaffordable housing.
The demonstration, which was organized by the CGTP, Portugal’s largest trade union federation, was also held in Porto and Coimbra. In all, the union said “thousands of workers” took part.
About 12.7% of the population in Portugal lives in overcrowded households.
Housing prices in Portugal recorded the largest annual increase of any EU member state in the second quarter of 2026, rising 16.5%. In Lisbon, the average rent is equivalent to 116% of the average salary, meaning it exceeds a typical monthly income by 16%.
Earlier this week, police removed a tent camp that activists had set up in Praça D. João I, a central public square in Porto, to draw attention to rising housing costs.
Brussels
In Belgium, students have held demonstrations in recent weeks over rising education costs, some of which turned violent over the weekend.
Video footage showed police using water cannons and tear gas during clashes with protesters in Brussels.
Belgian interior minister Bernard Quintin said in a post on X on Saturday that “what is unfolding in Brussels is no longer mere protest” and “all necessary means will be used to restore order in the face of the rioters.”
Clashes also took place in Liège. Police arrested 195 people across the two cities during Saturday’s protests, per The Brussels Times.
Milan
In Milan, a demonstration over the weekend against wars and the rising cost of living also descended into clashes between protesters and police.
Photos showed chaotic scenes around Piazza del Duomo, the landmark central square outside the Milan Cathedral and one of the city’s busiest tourist areas, with looters damaging shop fronts and setting objects on fire.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence in a post on X on Sunday.
“Thugs who exploit demonstrations to sow chaos, attack those who ensure security, and hold entire cities hostage,” she wrote. “Demonstrating is a right. Setting our cities ablaze is not.”
The demonstrations were also held in other cities across northern Italy. Police estimates reported by Rai News, Italy’s public broadcaster put turnout at about 5,000 in Milan, 3,000 in Turin, 2,000 in Bologna, 600 in Brescia, and 800 in Bergamo.
Italy’s annual inflation rate jumped to 4.1% in September, up from 3.2% in August.
In Milan, home prices have also climbed: residential asking prices were 49% higher in September than in 2018, according to the property portal Immobiliare.it.
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