The Minister of Internal Administration, Margarida Blasco, guaranteed this Saturday that “there is zero tolerance to racism” and that the “infamous attack on immigrants is not acceptable and does not represent the Portuguese people”.
“This infamous attack carried out tonight on migrant citizens is not acceptable, behavior like this is not acceptable”, said the minister, adding that the attack “does not represent the Portuguese people and the Portuguese do not support these types of attacks”.
The minister was speaking to journalists in Figueira da Foz where she presided over the ceremonies marking International Firefighter’s Day.
Six men were identified and one was detained, for possession of an illegal weapon, following attacks on immigrants, in Porto, according to PSP spokesperson, Sérgio Soares, who updated the information saying that the judge ordered the detainee’s preventive detention .
“These are people who seek our country because it is a safe country and such a bad, vile situation happens… on behalf of the Government, I can say that tolerance is zero and we will maintain that zero tolerance, not to racism, not to acts of xenophobia”, said the governor.
In her statements, Margarida Blasco also stressed that “the preparation of security forces will continue to be one of our many priorities”.
The statements by the Minister of Internal Administration come after the warning from the organization SOS Racismo, which revealed today that in recent days, in Porto, an organized group carried out racist attacks against immigrants residing in the city, a situation that forced several to receive hospital treatment.
“In recent days, an organized group of people formed a militia to invade homes and attack immigrants in the city of Porto. Using bats, sticks and knives, this group beat several immigrants inside their homes. The attacks were planned and properly organized, to spread terror and attack the largest number of immigrants. The homes were destroyed and several people had to receive hospital treatment”, reads the press release.
In the early hours of Friday in Porto, the PSP was alerted at around 01:00 to an attack in Campo 24 de Agosto, on two immigrants, by a group of four or five men who fled before the arrival of police officers, he said. the spokesperson, indicating that the two attacked were treated at Hospital São João.
About 10 minutes later, on Rua do Bonfim, 10 immigrants were attacked, in the house where they were staying, by a group of 10 men, armed with sticks and, the PSP has not yet been able to confirm, by a firearm, said the door. -voice of PSP.
According to the PSP official, at around 3:00 am, on Rua Fernandes Tomás, another immigrant was also attacked by other suspects, one of whom used a firearm.
At this time, with the reinforced police contingent, it was possible to intercept one of the suspects of aggression on Rua Santo Ildefonso, in possession of an extendable baton, he reported.
At around 05:00, the vehicle used in the 01:00 attack was intercepted, with five suspects inside and who were all identified, he added.
Given the suspicion of the existence of a hate crime, the matter was transferred to the Judiciary Police, he concluded.
