Clash between rival gangs from Timor ended with death of 26-year-old
PJ judicial police have arrested two men – and made 13 more defendants – following a police operation carried out after events that took place in Fátima in the early hours of June 2, which resulted in the death of a 26-year-old.
“Operation Thémis” took place early this morning and served search warrants and two arrest warrants on suspicion of the offences of aggravated homicide, possession of prohibited weapons and participation in a brawl.
As part of the investigation led by the PJ’s Leiria Department – and supported by elements from the Centre Directorate, the Arms and Security Unit and police forensic experts – several house searches were carried out and two suspects arrested in connection with the murder, in which Timorese citizens are involved.
In addition to those arrested, 13 more men have been charged with the offence of participating in a brawl. They have all been questioned and given an ‘identity and residence order’ (the lightest form of bail term).
“The violence involved two opposing groups and is estimated to have involved dozens of elements, all male, using bladed weapons, iron bars, sticks and other instruments of aggression,” reads a press release from the PJ.
Operation Thémis took place entirely in Fátima, a source has confirmed, although there were “elements involved in the brawl who travelled from Lisbon”.
The attacks resulted in the death of a 26-year-old man and at least five injured, aged between 22 and 27.
PJ inspectors also collected “relevant indicative elements, as well as formalising various statements and testimonies related to the situation.
“In this investigation and consequent operation, the support of the GNR’s Santarém Territorial Command, through the Tomar Detachment, was emphasised from the outset,” said the PJ.
The two men arrested will be brought before the judicial authorities today for initial questioning and the application of bail, or otherwise.
The investigation is continuing, said the PJ.
Following these events, the President of East Timor, José Ramos-Horta, apologised to the Portuguese and demanded that justice be tough on those responsible for the murder.
“I, as a Timorese and as President, apologise to my Portuguese friends and brothers for the disturbances caused”, the Timorese head of State told Lusa – also proposing that the visas of those involved be cancelled, and that they be expatriated to East Timor.
East Timor’s prime minister Xanana Gusmão also called on young Timorese, living in Portugal and in the diaspora, to stop practising “so-called” martial arts and rituals.
The events in Fátima were also criticised by the Timorese Episcopal Conference and the opposition Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor (Fretilin).
On a visit to Dili (East Timor), Portugal’s justice minister Rita Alarcão Júdice insisted that Timorese citizens are “welcome in Portugal”. The recent clashes in Fátima were being treated like “any incident that happens”, regardless of nationality, she stressed.
In November last year, the Timorese government suspended the learning and practice of martial arts in light of serious incidents in the country.
Needless to say, president of Fátima Parish Council, Humberto Silva, has been rattled by recent events, not appearing to share Rita Júdice’s attitude that this was an incident like any other.
“I feel worried”, he told Lusa. “We are a tourist town, the tourists (who) come to Fátima and the pilgrims (who) come to Fátima like peace and quiet, they feel good here (…) these disturbances, these conflicts between gangs, between groups of migrants” are not helping the impression that Fátima is a destination for religious tourism.
These latest arrests come in a week that Portugal ‘slipped’ in the Global Peace Index, and at a time when crime figures show the country has never suffered so many incidents of violent crime. ND
Source material: LUSA
