Brussels, June 19, 2026 (Lusa) - Portugal's prime minister, Luís Montenegro, expressed his regret on Friday at having learnt from news reports that he and his home were the target of attacks planned by the far-right extremist group Movimento Armilar Lusitano (MAL), as he had not been contacted by the authorities.

“On this matter, what I can tell you is that I was completely taken by surprise yesterday [Thursday] by this news [whilst] I was attending a [European Council] meeting, during which I was not even reachable, and I deeply regret that a matter which calls into question the safety of a citizen – in this case the prime minister and his family, though it could apply to any Portuguese citizen – was not shared with us,” said Luís Montenegro.

“I can even confide that it was extremely distressing that my family – particularly my wife and children – received this news in such a similarly unexpected manner and without even being able to speak to me, but this is not unique to the prime minister, myself and my family; it applies to any Portuguese citizen,” he emphasised.

Luís Montenegro was questioned about the indictment by the public prosecutor's office, made public on Thursday, in which nine official suspects – one of whom is a Public Security Police officer who was serving with the Lisbon Municipal Police – are charged in the case relating to the far-right group MAL with terrorist offences, accused of planning future actions against political targets, parties, journalists and academics.

ANE/AYLS // AYLS

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