Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 18^th June 2025

Good morning. With the increasing temperatures and the decrease in relative humidity, the fire risk has increased considerably. It goes without saying therefore that we must all take every precaution possible to avoid starting a fire. Over 98% of fires have a human cause, the majority through negligence. It is extremely important to following the warnings in place. Yellow level warning are in place for the whole of the mainland except Bragança and Vila Real which are at Orange.

On Monday there were 89 fires one of the highest days so far this year. Over 700 operatives were fighting fires at around 1700 hrs supported by 20 aircraft, the latter being around 30% of availability. One of our observations is the larger number of fire than usual in the Évora district, which has been at extreme danger levels, according to the Fire Weather Index.

Yesterday was the day with the highest risk so far with over 95% on the mainland at “high” risk or above. This comes exactly eight years since what became known as the Pedrógrão Grande complex of fires,” occurred the first being a fire at Escalos Fundeiros e Regadas. This was one of five major fires, which occurred from 17th to 24th June 2017, causing the death of 66 people, injuring 253 more and devastating extensive areas of the municipalities of Pedrógão Grande, Figueiró dos Vinhos and Castanheira de Pera, also spreading to the neighbouring municipalities of Sertã, Alvaiázere, Ansião and Penela. Let us all hope we never experience such a fire again in our lifetime. We can must all work together to prevent this.

On the crime front an item that caught our eye this week was that the Judicial Police had launched an operation to comply with 15 search and apprehend warrants), which resulted in the arrest of six people, strongly indicted by the practice of crimes related to group and terrorist activities. The detainees are suspected of integrating the so-called Lusitanian Armed Movement (MAL), which intended to constitute itself as a political movement, supported by an armed militia, and are indicted for the practice of framing facts in crimes of terrorist offenses, violent change of the rule of law and possession of prohibited weapons.

Among the six detainees, one was a member of the PSP, while others had links to private security groups. The dismantling of this far-right armed militia constituted the largest operation of its kind ever in Portugal, with hundreds of ammunition, military weapons and explosives seized, the Judicial Police itself reported. Read more about this in our link below.

A reminder that a hot air mass is passing through Continental Portugal originating in North Africa and carries particles and dust that will be suspended. This affects the quality of the air, estimating that it can contribute to the increase of suspended particles (PM10) concentrations.

As long as this phenomenon persists, the General Directorate of Health recommends the following precautions: Avoid prolonged exposure, limit outdoor physical activity and exposure to risk factors, such as tobacco smoke and contact with irritating products; For their greatest vulnerability to the effects of this phenomenon, children, the elderly, patients with chronic respiratory problems, mainly asthma and patients with the cardiovascular forum, should, if possible, remain inside the buildings with the windows closed:

Chronic patients should keep their medical treatments current; In case of worsening symptoms, contact the Health Line 24 (808 24 24 24).

The sixth edition of the EU Focus Day on domestic burglary takes place on Wednesday 18 June 2025. With a prevention campaign and local preventive initiatives, the EUCPN, several European countries, Europol and the European Commission aim to step up the fight against this crime by informing citizens that they can secure their home against burglary.

Property crime, and more specifically burglary, affects many European citizens. Luckily, burglaries are preventable and it does not have to be expensive! Research clearly shows the effectiveness of improved window and door locks or external lights that pop on when their sensors observe movement and internal lightning on a timer. These measures increase the risk of being caught and/or the effort that would be needed to enter a home successfully. These improved security measures prevented a great deal of crimes and eventually led to a genuine crime drop. The takeaway for crime preventers, though, is not to sit back and relax. On the contrary! Many people are still victim of burglary. That is why 22 European countries, united in the EUCPN (European Crime Prevention Network) and EMPACT, have joined forces to launch this initiative.

We hope that you have a nice week ahead

News

Operation “Disarmament 3D”. Six members of the Lusitanian Armillary Movement arrested

The Judicial Police announced this Tuesday an operation that culminated in the arrest of six people, strongly indicted for the practice of crimes of infractions related to terrorist groups and activities, discrimination and incitement to hatred and violence and possession of a prohibited weapon. One of those arrested was a member of the PSP.

The operation, carried out by the National Counter-Terrorism Unit, aimed to execute 15 search and seizure warrants, both at home and abroad.

“As a result of the searches carried out, it was possible to make arrests in flagrante delicto and seize various types of explosive material, several firearms, some of which were produced using 3D technology, several 3D printers, several dozen rounds of ammunition, several bladed weapons, computer equipment, among other evidence”, said the PJ in a statement sent to the media. The Lusitanian Armillary Movement (MAL) intended to establish itself as “a political movement, supported by an armed militia.

The investigation began with the detection of indicators on the internet of extremist demonstrations by apologists for nationalist ideologies and radical and violent far-right movements, followers of an anti-system and conspiratorial ideology, which encouraged discrimination, hatred and violence against immigrants and refugees.

The detainees are suspected of being members of the so-called Lusitanian Armillary Movement (MAL). The movement intended to establish itself as “a political movement, supported by an armed militia”. The investigation began in 2021.

“They were indicted for committing acts that could constitute terrorist offences, violent alteration of the rule of law and possession of prohibited weapons”, says the Judiciary.

Among the six detainees, one was a member of the PSP, while others had links to private security groups.

The detainees will be brought to court this Tuesday for their first judicial interrogation.

Largest operation ever

The dismantling of this far-right armed militia constituted the largest operation of its kind ever in Portugal, with hundreds of ammunition, military weapons and explosives seized, the Judicial Police itself reported.

“The quality and diversity of what we seized was surprising,” said Manuela Santos, director of the National Counter-Terrorism Unit (UNCT) of the Judicial Police, at a press conference.

“It was surprising” to find in the group this “capacity to do something with some projection, with the means at their disposal,” added the PJ leader.

“They were arming themselves, recruiting people and developing actions”, stated Manuela Santos, highlighting that the seized material “has an origin and everything is open in that aspect”, with “new lines of investigation”.

The official did not rule out the possibility of “security and military force elements” being involved in the group.

The larger group includes elements that “belonged to old far-right structures that no longer exist”, such as the New Social Order, founded by the neo-Nazi Mário Machado.

In a video distributed by the PJ there were neo-Nazi books, propaganda and 3D printers that were used to make weapons or tamper with airsoft guns so that they would fire lethal ammunition.

“It’s not easy [to investigate], because it’s a difficult environment to penetrate. These types of individuals are very alert” to the actions of the authorities.

“There was no concrete plan yet” to “trigger criminal action”, explained the UNCT coordinator, but stressed that the objective was to “attack institutions”, in line with what other groups of this kind do internationally.

The PJ leader recalled the mega-operation by German authorities that in 2022 dismantled a group that was trying to carry out a coup d’état. “They are people from many backgrounds”, united by “discrimination based on gender identity, race, creed”.

The national director of the Judicial Police expressed concern about the increase in cases related to radical and violent far-right movements in Portugal, such as the armed group that was dismantled by the authorities.

“We are very concerned about the growth of this activity, which does not only occur on national territory”, Luís Neves said today.

The leader wanted to be present at the press conference to assess the situation, “given the relevance of the operation, given the associated violent phenomenon” that violates “human rights, equality, respect for diversity and respect for the Constitution”.

In addition to this operation, Luís Neves highlighted the increase in hate attacks in Portugal, giving examples of the violence of Sporting fans, who set fire to a vehicle carrying Porto fans, or the attack on an actor from the theatre company “A Barraca”, by a nationalist movement.

Regarding the presence of security forces in these far-right radical groups, Luís Neves stressed that this requires vigilance but should not contaminate the public perception of the institutions.

“It is not because there is one element or another that has these criminal indications that we can call into question the two great security forces” that “do their work selflessly every day”, he said.