Year: 2017

Our condolences go to the families of at least 14 people who were killed in a terrorist attack in Las Ramblas, Barcelona yesterday. In addition around 130 were injured in the attack, involving a van driving into pedestrians along a crowded street.

The Catalan regional government has now said that citizens from 34 countries were among the people killed and injured. Three of the dead are believed to be German and one Belgium and a 70 year old woman from Portugal. France says 26 of its citizens are injured, at least 11 of them seriously; four Australians were wounded: two women remain in hospital in a serious but stable condition, while two men were treated and released. Three people from the Netherlands are among the wounded, along with a woman and her two children from Greece. A Hong Kong citizen suffered minor injuries, as did one American.

A second terror attack has taken place in Cambrils, a coastal town around 120 kms from Barcelona. Six bystanders and one police officer were injured – two seriously – when they were reportedly deliberately hit by a car – an Audi A3. Police officers then shot dead five suspects, some of whom were wearing what appeared to be explosive belts.

Authorities say the attack is linked to the Barcelona attack earlier on Thursday.

Two suspects whom police believe to be linked to the Barcelona attack are in custody, although neither is the driver, who escaped. A manhunt for him continues. At 07.30 this morning a third suspect was detained in Ripoll, about 96 kms north of Barcelona,

Officials are also linking the two attacks to an earlier explosion that destroyed a house in Alcanar, killing one person and wounding at least one more. Police now say they believe explosives were being prepared at the property.

Isis has claimed responsibility for the attack in Las Ramblas, but this could not be verified.

A vacation in Madeira ended in a tragic way for a family in Santana, early this Sunday morning, 13th August 2017. For reasons not yet entirely clear, a 50-year-old man, aimed a firearm at the head of his mother, sister and father, and fired at point-blank range when the victims were already in bed. The first two, aged 73 and 51 years, died immediately, the third, 78 years old, is in a very serious condition and under a reserved prognosis in the intensive care unit of the Funchal Hospital.

According to the DN, the house where the crime occurred, at Colmo’s site (Santana) around midnight on Sunday, belongs to the suspect’s parents, emigrants in France and who were vacationing in their homeland. With them were also the 51-year-old sister and the suspect’s nephew, who were residents of the Algarve and who joined their relatives in a reunion in Madeira that was intended to be a reliever but which turned out to be quite a conflict.

Reports are that on Saturday night the suspect and his sister disagreed. The parents will have taken the part of the daughter, defending their arguments, leaving the suspect quite angry.

According to a source close to his family, his nephew and brother persuaded him to go and have a drink at the ‘Contradictions’ bar, to stir up their spirits and then proceed to the camp in the parish of São Jorge.

The two women’s deaths were confirmed on the spot. The 78-year-old man was assisted by EMIR and evacuated to the Dr. Nélio Mendonça hospital, being hospitalized under a rather reserved prognosis.

The son and brother of the victims is suspected of having committed the crime in a frame of revenge.

The various reports and documents already prepared on the fire that killed 64 people in Pedrógão Grande in June were made public yesterday (9^th August).

At the same time, Minister Constança Urbano de Sousa ordered the application of penalties to the SIRESP operator and announced a new investigation, to establish disciplinary responsibilities in the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Internal Administration (SGMAI).

However it was concluded that security forces did not send motorists to that road where many of the deaths occurred (or which there was no warning of the risks involved).

The Minister of Internal Administration, also acknowledged to the journalists that there was “uncoordination at the command post” of the ANPC in Pedrógão Grande, namely in its articulation with the other civil protection agents in the field – reason why one of the measures to be implemented by ANPC is to put a communications technician in all the command posts and control the biggest fires.

The minister asserted that the “lack of articulation between the SGMAI, PSP, ANPC and GNR regarding the detection of problems in communications and the activation and mobilization of the Mobile Station, which was reflected in excessive delays in its availability”, was exacerbated by choosing the place where the command post was installed.

The ANPC has 15 days to complete a “liaison plan … with all liaison officers of all Civil Protection agents” in order to “improve coordination and operational response” given to citizens.

Constança Urbano de Sousa also determined the “establishment of possible disciplinary responsibilities” based on the ongoing report of the National Directorate of Audit and Supervision of ANMP to comply with the Integrated Protection and Relief Operations System and the Operations Management System. This survey also covers the articulation between the on-site PC command post, the Leiria District Relief Operations Command and the various civil protection agents involved.

It should be noted that investigations are also underway by the Public Ministry and the Independent Technical Commission set up by Parliament, as well as a study on the behavior and dynamics of the fire in Pedrógão Grande. The second part of the Telecommunication Institute study on the operation of SIRESP is still underway.

The Aliens and Borders Service (SEF) participated in the police operation carried out by the Spanish National Police, in collaboration with the UK Immigration Services and EUROPOL, which took place in Malaga, Spain.

The operation resulted in the dismantling of an international criminal network involved in the trafficking of Iranian citizens to the United Kingdom on commercial flights. The network operated from the city of Malaga in southern Spain and used Spain as a transit country. The organization charged each migrant about 25,000 euros for providing passports, travel documents, transfers and accommodation in the final destinations. In total, 101 individuals were detained.

SEF has played an important role in supporting investigations through the exchange of information, participation in operational meetings held at Europol and in the detention of several suspects in Portugal, namely at Faro and Porto Airports. The SEF Inspectors also participated actively in the house searches carried out in Malaga, at the invitation of the Spanish police authorities, recognizing the active and primordial collaboration of the SEF for the success of the investigations.

One of the facilitators of this illegal immigration network was identified in one of the detentions carried out under this operation at Faro Airport, whose identification was “key piece” in the location of the headquarters of this criminal group, which was located in the Spanish city of Malaga. This and other information, collected and investigated by the SEF, were forwarded to the competent Spanish authorities, allowing them to dismantle the entire criminal group, which involved several dozen Spanish, Iranian and Eastern citizens.

 

ANPC ISSUES HIGH TEMPERATURE AND FIRE RISK WARNINGS

Following the contact with the IPMA held today, August 4, the ANPC Command of Relief Operations (CNOS) has issued a statement that the warm and dry weather will continue for the next 72 hours with an intensification of the wind, highlighting:

SITUATION

– Maximum temperatures varying between 36-40ºC, in the districts of Castelo Branco, Portalegre, Évora, Beja and Faro, and between 30-35ºC, in the districts of Bragança, Braga, Vila Real, Viseu, Guarda, Coimbra , Santarém and Lisbon. The minimum temperatures will be around 20ºC in the Alentejo interior and in the Algarve leeward coast.

Today moderate winds (up to 25 km / h) from the northwest, being temporarily from southwest in the Aalentejo leeward in the afternoon, being moderate from the afternoon, and sometimes strong (up to 40 km / h) with gusts up to 60 km / H on the coast south of Cape Carvoeiro and in the highlands of the center and south.

– From tomorrow and Monday, the wind will be moderate (up to 30 km / h) from the north / northwest quadrant, blowing moderate to strong (up to 45 km / h) on the west coast and uplands, sometimes with gusts up to 65 Km / h, especially during the afternoon. During the night period, the wind will turn northeast to moderate to strong, in the north and center regions, particularly in the highlands.

– The Relative Humidity (RH) will be 20-30% in the interior regions of the Continent, in a range that can extend to the coast in the South, with night time  recovery in the general territory (> 75%), except In the district of Faro (35 – 65%), during the night from Friday to Saturday.

– In the night from Saturday to Sunday, there will be a rise of HR over 70% in most of the territory and between 35 – 65% in the districts of Bragança, Porto, Viseu, Castelo Branco, Portalegre and Faro.

Fire risk indices will remain in the “very high” to “maximum” in the Algarve regions and in the North and Center regions, with the exception of the coast.

2. EXPECTABLE EFFECTS

 

Depending on the forecast of the evolution of the meteorological conditions it is expected:

– Hot and dry weather. Moderate wind with conditions favourable to the eventual occurrence and propagation of forest fires.

 

3. PREVENTIVE MEASURES

The ANPC recalls that, in accordance with the legal provisions in force, it is not allowed:

– Carrying out fires, for bonfires for recreation or leisure, or for food confectionery;

– Use of burning and combustion equipment for lighting or food confectionery;

– To burn cut and mowed bushes and any type of leftovers of exploitation;

– The launching of flasks with lit wick or any other type of rocket;

– Smoking or making fire of any kind in the forest spaces and pathways that surround them;

– Fumigation or disinfestation in apiaries with fumigators that are not equipped with sparking devices.

The ANPC also recalls some precautions to be taken, in the light of the predicted weather conditions, to carry out agricultural and forestry work, namely:

– Keep machines and equipment clean of oils and dust;

– To supply the machines in cold and in place with little vegetation;

– Be careful of the sparks during their handling, avoiding their use during periods of high heat.

The ANPC also recommends the adequacy of the behaviour and attitudes towards the forest fire danger situation, in particular with the adoption of the necessary preventive and precautionary measures, observing the prohibitions in force and paying special attention to the evolution of the fire danger for the next days , Available from the websites of the ANPC and IPMA, at the Forestry Technical Offices of the Municipalities and Fire Departments.

Concerning the 29^th July 2017 edition of the weekly SOL titled a story by journalist Ana Carvalho as “Pedrogão – Civil Protection in Turmoil “, the ANPC have published the follow rebuttal of the content of the article.

ANPC state “The journalistic work, which contains factual errors, aimed to start a controversy, generate internal malaise and weaken the management of the National Civil Protection Authority, at a stage that is especially critical and demanding from the point of view of fighting the rural fires that have devastated the country, when the service and its operational, technical and administrative elements”.

They need maximum focus and concentration to respond to the challenges ahead.

5. In that piece of journalism, it is stated that the recent departure of ANPC of the communication advisor Fausto Coutinho is due to “direct incompatibilities with the President” and “unavailability to deal with the blockade of information”, as well as “inconsistencies in decisions that were taken during the firefight”. These are false reasons, since that element expressed and was  free  to go” to face new tasks and new responsibilities, “as it was transmitted to the President of ANPC and also to all employees in a farewell email dated 14 July 2017 (and not on July 6 as it is referred to in that piece). His duties will end on August 5 when your bond is terminated.
6. The communications advisor Fausto Coutinho never made any pronouncements, nor was this part of his functions as ANPC’s communications adviser, of the operational conduct, being limited to his work in connection with the media and strategic management of the Authority’s communication.
7. The secretary of the President is also referred to as leaving the ANPC, which is false, and his absence is motivated by health reasons (medical leave).
8. The story goes on to refer to the “mass substitution of civil protection operational and administrative frameworks in the midst of fires”, which is also false, since operational changes occurred prior to the start of the most critical and demanding phase of the forest fire campaign this year.
9. As regards the administrative staff, the departures were made at the request of the interested parties and in small numbers and were quickly filled by replacing other elements in the same functions.
10. In relation to Leira’s current 2nd Operational Commander (2CODIS), Mário Cerol, the article claims his lack of qualifications is shown for the performance of those functions as a counterpoint to those of the former 2CODIS of that district, Luís Lopes. For better clarification, it should be mentioned that Mário Cerol served as deputy commander (2001-2004) and commander (2004-2017) of the Alcobaça Volunteer Fire Department, a total of 16 years of effective command duties, while Luís Lopes only served as 2nd Commander of the Volunteer Firefighters of Leiria (2006-2013), a total of 7 years of command duties.
11. Regarding the current 2CODIS of Leira, Mário Cerol, it is mentioned that he is licensed in law, as opposed to the academic qualifications of the former 2CODIS of that district, Luís Lopes, who graduated in Civil Protection. However, it is not evident that Mário Cerol has been licensed since 2003 and that Luis Lopes only finished his degree in 2016, during the exercise of functions as 2CODIS, nor the fact of the differences of history in the exercise of command between both, which demonstrates the suitability of the current 2CODIS for the functions it performs.
12. The ANPC further clarifies that for the exercise of operational command functions, no specific academic areas have been defined. What was valued in choosing the elements of the operational structure was always his professional experience in the exercise of command and coordination functions, which was also evident over time in the diversity of skills and knowledge that various elements of the national level command and district have demonstrated ownership. We remember that they have already held high positions in the national command of ANPC licensed in management without their credibility being called into question.
13. The journal also states that “failures were never publicly admitted without a red sign for that area on the day the fire broke out” and that “the means that would be necessary to fight the fire”.  In this regard, it is necessary to clarify to the population that the elevation of alert status to yellow for the district of Leiria was made through the Operational Technical Communiqué (ANC’s CTO) No. 11, dated June 15, 2017, to ” Heat and danger of forest fire “, based on IPMA Notice No. 114/2017, for” hot weather “.
14. The increase in the special alert status requires all entities that compete for the integrated system of protection and rescue operations, from the municipal level, through the district level to the national level, to reinforce operational situation monitoring, intensification preparatory acts for the tasks of mitigation and suppression of risks and the pre-positioning of human and material resources to efficiently and effectively carry out the demands of the protection and relief actions.
15. In addition, the ANPC also issued Notice to Population No. 8/2017, on June 15, which referred to the predicted meteorological scenario and the expected effects, if the

Preventive measures relating to heat and the use of fire in rural areas in accordance with the legislation in force, as well as self-protection measures for the population.

12. Finally, the journalist points out in the story that she writes that “it is also unknown how many wounded are still in the hospitals and if any of those wounded died following their Injuries”. This is a matter accompanied by health agencies and should be addressed to those who are entitled.

Given that the journalistic piece is lacking in rigor, is inaccurate and contains falsehoods, and because it undermines the good name and honourability of persons and institutions, the ANPC denounces the situation and repudiates the way the matter was handled by this media body.

The original article can be read at:

https://sol.sapo.pt/artigo/574297/tragedia-de-pedrogao-grande-protecao-civil-em-alvoroco

The Intervention Unit, through the Protection and Relief Intervention Group (GIPS), rescued on August 1st, a 12-year-old child who had fallen from a height of about 7 meters in a rocky area, In the Place of the Ermida – Terras de Bouro.

The GIPS military when they arrived at the place where the child was, immediately gave first aid in order to stabilize him, verifying that he had several bruises on the face and possible internal injuries.

The child was removed from the scene to the INEM ambulance and was transported by helicopter to the Hospital de Braga.

Also attended were the military of the Territorial Post of Vieira do Minho, INEM and the Volunteer Firefighters of Terras de Bouro.

It was reported on 25^th July that the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) carried out a series of operations in the course of a criminal investigation investigating crimes of aid to illegal immigration and pimping, which culminated in the detention of four national citizens, aged between 34 years and 53 years.

In the control actions that took place in the north of the country, in Vila Nova de Gaia, carried out by 35 inspectors of the SEF. sixteen households and 3 commercial establishments were searched, in which 13 foreign citizens were identified. Of these, 3 were in an illegal situation in the country, and 1 was notified to leave Portugal immediately and two were arrested and present in court.

In the search they seized large amounts of money, not yet quantifiable, several documents that reflect the modus operandi of the criminal group, the activities of favouring the entry and illegal stay of foreign citizens in the country and the large profits that they obtained from the exploitation of the practice of prostitution.

The four citizens arrested yesterday were present at the Court of Criminal Investigation of Porto that determined as coercive measures: three-week presentation to the main suspect and biweekly presentation to the other defendants. A ban on contact with the women in the establishment was established for all.

The Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) has detained a foreign national wanted in the Vila do Carregado for homicide.

The 42-year-old man was detained by the SEF in fulfillment of an international arrest warrant for the crime of homicide committed in his country of origin.

He was present today to the Court of Appeal of Lisbon that determined his pre-trial detention at the Lisbon Prison, where he awaits the proceedings of the arrest warrant issued by Brazil.

The Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) detained a foreign citizen, in Oporto, in compliance with an International Capture Mandate, issued by the Spanish authorities, being sought for the practice of the crime of trafficking in narcotics.

The 44-year-old man was present at the Oporto Court of Appeal, which ordered him to be installed in the Prison at the Judicial Police, where he awaits pre-trial detention of the further terms of the extradition process for Spain.