Lisbon suburbs calm amid police shooting outrage

Lisbon’s outer suburbs experienced a quieter night with a strong police presence following three days of protests sparked by the police shooting of Odair Moniz, a Cape Verde-born Portuguese resident. Despite a drop in incidents, tensions remain high as protests are scheduled in central Lisbon for Saturday, raising concerns of potential confrontations.

While sporadic disturbances continued, including trash bin fires and stone-throwing at vehicles, police reported that overall violence had diminished. Authorities have maintained a heavy presence in the suburbs since the shooting in Amadora, with police chief Luis Carrilho commending officers for helping bring the situation under control.

A rights group, Vida Justa, announced a peaceful demonstration against police violence, condemning what it described as online provocations from far-right groups. Meanwhile, the far-right Chega party has called for a rally in support of law enforcement, with senior lawmaker Pedro Pinto controversially stating that “more lethal force by police would bring more order.”

The shooting has sparked wider outrage and criticism of police actions. According to a police report, Moniz had allegedly crashed a car and attempted to attack officers with a blade, leading an officer to open fire. However, some sources claim the officer later denied the presence of a weapon.

Cape Verde’s ambassador to Portugal, Eurico Correia Monteiro, expressed deep sorrow over Moniz’s death, describing him as a “law-abiding and peaceful worker,” and urged the immigrant community to reject violent protests, cautioning that unrest could fuel negative stereotypes.

Lisbon’s social fabric has been under scrutiny in recent years amid rising crime rates and allegations of police discrimination, particularly against Black communities. The UN recently voiced concerns about excessive police force targeting people of African descent in Portugal.

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