A 1949 riot in Reykjavík broke out when Iceland abandoned its neutrality
The peaceful streets of Reykjavík turned into a battlefield in 1949 when thousands of protesters clashed with police over Iceland's controversial decision to join the NATO military alliance.
On March 30, 1949, Iceland abandoned its long-standing policy of neutrality to become a founding member of NATO, sparking a massive riot in Austurvöllur square. Protesters threw stones and eggs at the Parliament building, leading police to use tear gas for the first time in the nation's history.
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