A protest took place between Praça D. Pedro IV (Rossio), starting at 14:00, and concluded near the steps of the Assembly of the Republic at around 16:00. Some demonstrators remained in the area until approximately 20:30, the Lisbon Metropolitan Command (Cometlis) of the PSP reported, noting that six people were arrested and two others identified at different times and locations for acts of vandalism and resistance to authorities.
The first two arrests occurred at Largo do Carmo after a group of about 150 individuals broke away from the main protest, which was already gathered at the Assembly of the Republic, and headed towards the Chiado area.
During the march, the group “caused several damages,” including graffiti on residential and commercial building facades.
“Some individuals reacted violently to police intervention, leading to two arrests for resistance and coercion against officials, and two other individuals were identified,” stated the PSP.
Another individual was detained near the Assembly of the Republic for crossing the predefined police security perimeter, ascending the building steps.
Later, after 20:30, authorities arrested three more individuals for physical assault and resistance.
Cometlis also noted that during the protests near the Assembly of the Republic, officers had to extinguish two fires started by demonstrators, and the Regimento de Sapadores Bombeiros was called upon to put out a fire in garbage bins.
The police presence was reinforced by the Special Police Unit.
The general strike was organized by the trade union centers CGTP-IN and UGT in opposition to labor law changes proposed by the Government.
