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29-03-2023
LISBON: Portuguese police have shot a man suspected of stabbing two people to death at an Ismaili Muslim centre in Lisbon.
Police were called to the centre on Tuesday morning where they encountered a suspect “armed with a large knife”, a police statement said.
Officers ordered him to surrender but he advanced toward them and was “neutralized”, the statement said. The suspect was taken to a Lisbon hospital where he is in police custody.
Several other people were wounded but police provided no further details.
Prime Minister Antonio Costa told reporters the attack was “a criminal act”.
“Everything points to this being an isolated incident,” Costa said.
There was no immediate word on the identity of those killed.
Armed police from a special operations unit could be seen forming a perimeter outside the building. Costa said police were investigating the attack and it was too soon to speculate about a motive.
The Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, generally known as the Ismailis, belong to the Shia branch of Islam. They are a culturally diverse community living in more than 25 countries around the world.
Portugal hasn’t recorded any significant terror attacks in recent decades, and religious violence is virtually unheard of in the country.
The attack took place at the Ismaili Centre. The suspect, who was in possession of a large knife, is reportedly of Afghan origin.
The suspect was shot in the leg and detained by police, and his motive is not yet clear.
The attack happened after 11:30 local time after the suspect entered the centre, according to local media.
CNN Portugal reports police and emergency services were immediately called to the scene and the local Ismaili Muslim community is providing support to families of victims.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said it appeared to be “an isolated act” and discussing a possible motive was “premature”.
Writing on social media, police urged the public to avoid the area near to the Ismaili Centre. (Int’l Monitoring Desk)
