Protesters delay opening of Barcelona real estate fair

Riot police remove an activist amid a protest at The District real estate fair in Barcelona denouncing the housing crisis and evictions, in Barcelona, Spain, October 19, 2022. REUTERS/Nacho Doce

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Hundreds of activists delayed the opening of an international real estate fair in the northeastern Spanish city of Barcelona on Wednesday as they protested against what they called a hotbed of speculation exacerbating a widening cost of living crisis.

Dozens burst into the fairgrounds, chanting slogans and preventing the opening ceremony from taking place before being removed by police. Others gathered outside the building, where they lobbed paint at some of the arriving attendees, Reuters journalists said. Police in riot gear stood at the entrance.