Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 27th November 2024
Good afternoon. We start this weekly report with the news of two rural fires, an unusual occurrence given that the fire risk was low throughout the country.
The first fire occurred in São Martinho do Porto, Serra da Pescaria in the morning 24th November. At one stage 98 operatives and 28 vehicles were deployed.
The situation was quite complicated with dwellings close by, urban fire vehicles were deployed to protect dwellings. Very high wind gusts exacerbated the situation. João Bonifácio, commander of São Martinho do Porto firefighters, admitted the possibility of the flames having started “in a medium voltage wire that was on the ground next to a eucalyptus plantation”, although the causes of the fire still have to be investigated. Other sources refer to a cable that had fallen due to high winds.
The second of these, the following day, was a fire at a campsite at Piedense Camping Park, Costa da Caparica, resulting in eight people with minor injuries due to smoke inhalation. Of these, two were taken to Hospital Garcial de Orta, in Almada, and six were treated at the scene, refusing transport to the hospital. The Setúbal Judicial Police, responsible for investigating urban fires, will investigate the causes of the fire.
Although the causes need to be verified, it shows that fires can be ignited in low risk conditions as well, so it is prudent to take care especially for example in burning cut and piled waste.
The recent bad weather resulted in 750 incidents mainly as a result of strong winds and heavy rain. Once again the majority were floods and fallen trees, which mainly affected Metropolitan Lisbon, the Coimbra region and Porto. According to Civil Protection Authority, “there were 281 floods, 221 fallen trees, 192 fallen structures, 51 road cleanings and 6 landslides”. It is important therefore to follow the advice of the authorities which we publish on our Facebook page, and avoid if at all possible parking your car under trees especially if they appear in poor condition. As always closely follow the weather forecasts and safety advice from the IPMA and ANEPC to minimize the risk to yourselves and your property.
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, designated on November 25, constitutes a milestone in the fight against violence against women, alerting political decision-makers as well as society as the whole of the various cases of violence against women, namely: cases of abuse or harassment sexual, physical and psychological abuse, and raising awareness of the importance of preventing and combating cases of domestic violence. However this remains one of the highest report crimes in Portugal. This is a public crime and therefore anyone can report this to the authorities, not just the victim. APAV (victim support organisation) is available to help through its various services, namely the Victim Support Line 116 006 – weekdays, from 08:00 to 23:00 – free and confidential call.
Lastly the Christmas fair held at the Museu do Traje in São Brás de Alportel on 24th November, was a great success with over 1000 people attending. A great Christmas atmosphere with plenty of exhibitors. Our stand situated in the Old Gallery was kept very busy with many visitors, with various enquiries ranging from: crime trends and crime prevention, land cleaning; safe residents program, rural fire prevention, recent floods, earthquake and tsunamis.
Others came over just for chat enquiring about our work and we were pleased to receive compliments on our services in providing information and advice. Thank you. A big thank you also to the organisers, Amigos do Museu, of this very successful event.
Our team at Safe Communities Portugal wish everyone a safe week ahead and for our American friends a Happy Thanksgiving.
News
Judicial Police are interviewing suspects of attack on bus in Loures
The Judiciary Police are, this Wednesday afternoon, interviewing several suspects in the attack on a bus in Lisbon that resulted in serious injuries to the driver, who was burned. The PJ is not yet revealing how many people are being interviewed, and is referring to a statement that should be sent later today.
On Wednesday morning, the PJ carried out several search warrants in the municipality of Loures. A source from the PJ confirmed that an investigation operation was launched into the attack on a driver in Santo António dos Cavaleiros.
Few details are yet known. The same source indicates that, once the operation is concluded, the PJ will provide clarification and information on the outcome of the operation.
The suspects are allegedly responsible for the fire and direct attack on a bus in Santo António dos Cavaleiros, in Loures, during the wave of riots generated in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area by the death of Odair Moniz, shot by a PSP agent in the Cova da Moura neighbourhood, in Amadora, about a month ago.
The Carris Metropolitana bus was already empty of passengers when the incident occurred, but the driver, who was still inside, suffered “severe burns to his face, chest and upper limbs”, the PSP said at the time.
Cape Verdean Odair Moniz, 43 years old and resident in the Zambujal neighborhood, in Amadora, was shot by a PSP agent in the early hours of October 21, in the Cova da Moura neighbourhood, in the same municipality, and died shortly afterwards.
In the riots that followed his death, in the following days, more buses, dozens of cars and rubbish bins were set on fire, but the attack that left the driver in a serious condition is the most serious under investigation.
According to the official version of the PSP, Odair Moniz is said to have “fled” by car after seeing a police vehicle and crashed in Cova da Moura, where, when approached by the officers, “he is said to have resisted arrest and tried to attack them with a sharp weapon”.
The SOS Racismo association and the Vida Justa movement contested the police version and demanded a “serious and impartial” investigation to determine responsibilities, considering that what is at stake is “a culture of impunity” in the police force.
Authorities have launched investigations, but no conclusions are yet known.