According to Portuguese authorities, a stabbing at an Islamic centre in Lisbon has left two people dead and several others injured. Police were called to the centre on Tuesday morning, where they encountered a man armed with a large knife. The attacker has been taken into custody after being shot by police for failing to put down his weapon. The suspect has not yet been officially identified, but local media reports suggest that he is a widowed Afghan refugee and father of three children. The deceased have also not yet been officially identified, but they are reported to be two female employees of the Ismaili Centre, located near the Benfica Lisbon football stadium.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa expressed his condolences and solidarity to the families of the victims and the Ismaili community in Portugal on Twitter. He also stated that it is too early to speculate about the motives for the crime and that they must wait for the results of the investigation. Interior Minister Jose Luis Carneiro later said that “everything leads to believe” that the attack was “an isolated act”.
The Ismaili Centre was opened in 1998 by Prince Karim Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the world’s Ismailis. It has exhibition spaces, classrooms, and prayer halls. There are approximately 7,000 Ismaili Muslims living in Portugal, a nation of about 10 million people. The Ismailis belong to the Shia branch of Islam and many fled to Portugal from Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony during the African country’s civil war which ended in 1992.
Portugal has been considered one of the safest countries in the world and does not tend to experience Islamophobic attacks or generally a high level of crime. However, this attack has raised concerns about security and the possibility of similar incidents occurring in the future.
The incident has also sparked discussions about the treatment of refugees and immigrants in Portugal. While the country has been praised for its welcoming attitude towards refugees, some have criticized the government for not doing enough to support them and integrate them into society. The attacker’s status as a refugee has also raised questions about the screening process and whether more needs to be done to identify potential threats.
Overall, the attack at the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon has left the community in shock and mourning. As the investigation continues, authorities will be working to determine the motives behind the attack and whether there are any further threats to public safety.