Disbanded Alleged Far-Right Terror Cell in Lisbon
Plot foiled: Radical right-wing extremist organization prevented from executing attack in Portugal
Uncovered Plot for Attacks Including Parliament Strike
In a shocking turn of events, a suspected far-right extremist group has been busted in Portugal, plotting attacks potentially targeting the Portuguese Parliament in Lisbon. Following a series of 15 raids across the capital and its outskirts, authorities nabbed six suspects and confiscated an array of dangerous goods, such as explosives, firearms, ammo, IT equipment, and 3D printers for manufacturing weapons.
Authorities suspect these detainees of forming and supporting a terrorist organization, along with spreading hate speeches, inciting violence, and illegally possessing weapons.
Manuela Santos, head of the Anti-Terror Unit (UNCT) of the Criminal Police, expressed surprise over the quality and diversity of the recovered items. Among the arrestees was a senior police officer. Santos did not dismiss the likelihood of other members from the law enforcement or military involved in the group.
Escalating Actions of Anti-Establishment Groups Post-Pandemic
The terror cell is believed to be associated with the "Movimento Armilar Lusitano" (MAL), roughly meaning the "Lusitanian Armillary Movement." This group had reportedly armed themselves, recruited members, and planned specific acts, including strikes on institutions such as the Parliament, according to the anti-terror chief.
Portugal has long signaled an increase in illegal activities by far-right and anti-establishment groups. These activities have reportedly intensified since the pandemic, as per Santos' remarks.
The police intervention gained prominent coverage in media and political circles, yet it also ignited worries. "We are deeply concerned about the surging far-right activities," stated Kripo Director Luís Neves. "This is highly perilous. Weapons crafted via 3D printers - something unthinkable in Portugal till now," said researcher Catarina Moreira de Carvalho, an expert on violent extremism and radicalization, in newspaper "Diário de Notícias." Tighter precautionary measures are deemed necessary.
While it's known that various European countries, including Portugal, have witnessed a rise in far-right and nationalist activities during and post pandemic due to social, economic, and political strains, precise details about Portugal would require region-specific reports or authoritative declarations. A careful review of local news, government announcements, or security assessments focusing on these matters would provide a more accurate and timely understanding.
- The arrest of a far-right extremist group in Portugal, discussed in the context of the disbanded alleged terror cell in Lisbon, is also linked to the "Movimento Armilar Lusitano" (MAL), a group associated with war-and-conflicts, politics, and crime-and-justice, as per the anti-terror chief.
- The escalation of actions by anti-establishment groups, as seen in the case of the disbanded far-right terror cell in Portugal, has reportedly intensified since the pandemic, according to the head of the Criminal Police (Manuela Santos), thereby meriting attention in the domains of general-news, war-and-conflicts, and crime-and-justice.
