A nationwide public transportation strike is scheduled in Italy from April 14-16. Railway workers will go on a 24-hour strike beginning at 9:00 PM on April 14. For maritime transport, the strike will be held for 24 hours starting at 8:00 AM on April 15, while air transport workers are also expected to strike for 24 hours on April 15 at unspecified start time.
Austria will close 24 border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia due to a recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease among livestock. This disease rarely impacts humans, but increased sanitation and restrictions may be enforced at border crossings.
On April 2, an explosion in the Fontibón locality of Bogotá, Colombia, injured at least seven people. The city has seen a rise in explosive attacks since March. Local authorities believe these incidents reflect an urban terrorism strategy by criminal gangs seeking to assert territorial control and retaliate against non-compliant extortion victims.
The United States Embassy in Hungary issued a travel advisory on April 4 for Budapest, warning of several planned protests on April 5, 7, 8, and 9. Heightened political tensions in Hungary and recent large-scale protests against new legislation indicate a risk of large turnout in upcoming protests, as well as the possibility of police crackdowns.
On April 5, tens of thousands of people in cities across Spain will protest, calling for stronger government action to address the country’s ongoing housing crisis. In Madrid, demonstrations will begin at 6:30 PM in Town Hall Square, while in Barcelona, demonstrations will start at 6:00 PM at Plaça d’Espanya. Similar protests are expected in nearly all of Spain’s major provincial capitals and cities.
An occupied vehicle in Dam Square caught fire after a small explosion. Amsterdam police believe the fire may have been started intentionally by the driver. The driver is in custody and is being treated at a local hospital for serious injuries. No bystanders were injured. The police have sealed off a large area around Dam Square and are not allowing people to enter as explosive experts investigate the car.
Five people were wounded during a stabbing in Dam Square just before 3:30 PM. Police have arrested the suspect, but have not yet established a motive for the stabbings. Police have imposed a cordon at Sint Nicolaasstraat and at Dam Square.
Protesters will gather at the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights at 2:00 PM on March 29. This protest is part of a series of ongoing pro-Palestine gatherings worldwide in observance of the upcoming Quds Day on April 5. Social media engagement suggests the March 29 protest will see turnout in the high hundreds or low thousands.
Beginning March 26, workers at São Paulo’s public rail operator, Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos (CPTM), will launch an indefinite strike to protest the privatization of Lines 11-Coral, 12-Safira, and 13-Jade. The strike is expected to disrupt service on these lines. Lines 7-Rubi and 10-Turquesa will remain unaffected, as they are represented by a different union.
Brussels Airport (BRU) and Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) will be fully closed on March 31 due to a major trade union strike that will affect transportation workers. All flights at CRL scheduled for March 31 have been canceled. All outbound flights at BRU have been canceled, and there is a possibility of inbound flights being canceled as well.