Madrid woman whose eviction ignited Spain’s housing protests dies at 87

Maricarmen Abascal, the 87-year-old Spanish woman whose dramatic eviction last month sparked mass housing protests that led to an early election, has died, the Madrid tenants’ union said on Wednesday, as thousands demonstrated over her death.

Abascal had been in hospital for severe anxiety and exhaustion since her eviction on September 23 from her home of more than 70 years, when police and social ‌workers removed her by stretcher.

Her case ignited protests over a mounting housing crisis...