“Where are all the poets of free immigration now?” challenges CHEGA leader
Less than 24-hours since the massive demonstration against the police operation that took place in Rua do Benformoso, Martim Moniz, before Christmas, several foreigners have been involved in what the media is calling “disorder” in the same street, resulting in at least three being transported to hospital.
“Blood in the streets, punch-ups, knives and iron bars in Martim Moniz, Lisbon”, CHEGA leader André Ventura wrote shortly after 4pm over ‘X’ social network. “Where are Pedro Nuno Santos, Mariana Mortágua and Rui Tavares now? (this referring to the leaders of the left wing parties who decried what they saw as an ‘unacceptable racist’ police operation on December 19) (Where are) the red carnation crowd? The poets of liberty and free immigration? Where are they all now?”
Current reports point to seven victims in all, with PSP police saying they have not, for the time being, discovered the motives for this ‘disorder’, which began at the beginning of the afternoon in the street currently infamous for the image of immigrants lined up facing a wall in order to be searched and identified by police.
Three men were transported to hospital, a fourth is understood to have sought treatment for himself independently.
“One victim was stabbed in one of his legs, another in the lumbar region. Both received assistance on the spot and were then transported to São José hospital”, according to a PSP police source.
It is unclear what kind of injuries the other victims suffered.
For now, police are communicating the incident to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and reinforcing patrols in the “area of the occurrence and immediate surroundings”.
But it is a sorry sequel to yesterday’s show of force, indicating that police are the ‘guilty parties’ when it comes to trying to enforce law and order in the capital.
natasha.donn@portugalresident.com
