Police detain three suspects in shooting that wounded Swedish tourist in Lisbon city centre
Three suspects in the shooting of a Swedish tourist on Rua Augusta in August turned themselves in following searches by the police. None was at home at the time of the operations.
Three arrested in shooting that hit Swedish tourist on Rua Augusta
Three suspects in the shooting of a Swedish tourist in Lisbon city centre in August have been arrested by the Judicial Police (PJ), reported Público and confirmed by noticiasaominuto.com to a source at the PJ.
According to the same publication, the men turned themselves in to authorities after their residences were searched. At the time of the operations, none of them was at home.
It has not been established which of the three carried out the shots. All are suspects in attempted murder.
What happened on 10 August
On 10 August, a Swedish tourist of approximately 40 years old was struck in the abdomen by a stray bullet whilst buying Portuguese custard tarts at a pastry shop on Rua Augusta. The National Emergency Medical Institute (INEM) transported her to São José Hospital, from which she was discharged the next day. The woman subsequently returned to Sweden to undergo surgical procedure for bullet removal.
The shooting is believed to have originated from a dispute between rival groups involved in the sale of pressed cannabis. One of the suspects is said to have drawn a small-calibre pistol and fired in the direction of an opponent — missing the target. The bullet struck the tourist who was passing nearby.
Suspect released the next day generated controversy
One of those involved had been arrested the day after the incident but was released on the bail condition of fortnightly check-ins. A source from the National Directorate of the Public Security Police (PSP) explained to noticiasaominuto.com that the arrest took place "in the context of a domestic violence process".
The decision was classified as "unacceptable" by Carlos Moedas, president of Lisbon City Council. "This decision is unacceptable! Beyond the socially reprehensible example it conveys, it is also a sign of lack of authority for our security forces," Moedas wrote on the social network X on 11 August.
Following the case, the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI) announced an increase in police response in areas of highest tourist concentration in Lisbon.
Source: Google News PT — Crime (pt)