Lisbon, Oct. 23, 2024 (Lusa) - Four people were injured, including two police officers, following disturbances last night in the Lisbon region, the PSP announced on Wednesday, which also recorded 60 incidents in eight municipalities.
The PSP confirmed three arrests for the alleged offences of aggravated damage and aggravated physical harm in incidents that affected the neighbourhoods of Zambujal (Alfragide, Amadora), Portela (Carnaxide, Oeiras), Casal de Cambra (Sintra), and Cova da Moura (Amadora), as well as other disturbances in the municipalities of Lisbon, Odivelas, Loures, Cascais, and Seixal.
In a statement, the PSP revealed that two police officers were injured by stone-throwing, requiring hospital treatment, and two other citizens were "victims of stabbings, although not serious, allegedly by individuals who robbed and set fire to" a bus in the Zambujal neighbourhood.
There was also damage to two police cars, two Carris buses were stolen and set on fire, eight cars and a motorbike were also set on fire, and numerous rubbish bins were destroyed and flammable material seized.
"The PSP will not tolerate acts of disorder and destruction carried out by criminal groups intent on defying the authorities and disturbing the security of the community, groups that are part of a minority and that do not represent the rest of the Portuguese population who only want to live in peace and tranquillity," the note reads.
Regarding the alleged entry on Tuesday of police officers into the house of Odair Moniz, the man shot by the PSP on Monday night, located in the Zambujal neighbourhood, the PSP said that they only entered a house "other than the one referred to in the news reports, in support of the Amadora Volunteer Fire Brigade, who went to the scene to provide medical support to a child and at the request of the family".
The newspaper Porto reported on Tuesday night that the PSP had broken down the door of the house. However, Porto "categorically denies breaking down any doors".
Regarding images circulating on social media of a PSP team in the lobby of a building in Bairro do Zambujal, the national directorate clarified that the police were "engaging in dialogue with the citizens present there, to calm down and maintain public tranquillity".
The PSP also stressed that "it is committed to restoring order, peace and public tranquillity" in the neighbourhoods of the Lisbon metropolitan area affected by the riots and called on all citizens to "remain calm, peaceful and trusting" in the police.
The riots have been taking place since Monday following the death of a man. Odair Moniz, 43, was shot by a PSP officer in the early hours of Monday morning in the Cova da Moura neighbourhood in Amadora and died shortly afterwards in Lisbon's São Francisco Xavier Hospital.
According to the national directorate of the PSP, the man fled in a car after seeing a police vehicle on Avenida da República in Amadora. He crashed in Cova da Moura, where, when approached by the officers, he resisted arrest and tried to assault them with a weapon.
The SOS Racismo association and the Vida Justa movement contested the police version. They demanded a "serious and impartial" investigation to ascertain "all responsibilities", considering that "a culture of impunity" in the police is at stake.
The General Inspectorate of Internal Administration has opened an urgent inquiry and the PSP has also announced an internal investigation. At the same time, the officer who shot the man has been made an accused.
JGO/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
