The mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, said that far-right and far-left forces are contributing to an atmosphere of hatred and violence in the city. He made this remark following an attempted murder on Monday, where two immigrants were targeted.
Rui Moreira was visiting a school in Porto on Thursday to mark the start of the school year. There he talked to the media and emphasized that Porto has always been made up of people who came from outside.
He argued that the discourse of incitement to hatred and violence is not just from the far right, as is often claimed. He said that:
The city has to understand that it is not just made up of people who have their roots here , no, it is made up of people who build their roots here.
Furthermore, he believes that it is necessary to find a way to pacify society. The mayor said that:
Often, when people start talking about the city being gentrified just because people from outside are coming here, the far-left forces also contribute to this environment.
Violence in Porto: Multicultural Roots Of Porto
Arrest And Investigation Following the Attack
The Judicial Police (PJ) arrested a 26-year-old man on Thursday. He was suspected of attempted murder and two crimes of discrimination and incitement to hatred and violence. The incidents took place in the early hours of Monday in Porto, targeting two immigrants.
When asked about the issue, Moreira admitted to being worried. The representative of Porto added:
We are very concerned about all types of violence, but this type of violence is terrible, because it shows that we have people in our society who do not understand what is happening.
Growing Population Of Potro
Moreira also highlighted that cities are places where different people, different races, different religions, with different ideas meet. He pointed out that these factors are what makes a city cosmopolitan.
Violence in Porto – Growing Population
The mayor also told journalists that he will present the city’s demographic figures at the next Municipal Assembly meeting. The meeting is scheduled for September 16th, 2024 on Monday. He went on to say:
We are seeing a significant increase in the population of Porto. After 40 years of population loss, the population stock in Porto is growing. In fact, in schools too, we have more and more children, many of them from migrant communities.
Incidents Of Violent In Porto
Furthermore, the PJ released a statement today that the man is also suspected of a robbery crime. The facts are under investigation by the Northern Directorate. They revealed that it occurred at two different times, but successively, on public roads in the city of Porto.
The first incident took place in the Campo 24 de Agosto area. After randomly approaching several foreign citizens with racist insults, the suspect, armed with a bladed weapon, violently attacked the victims and stole some of their belongings.
According to the PJ, one of the targets ended up being seriously injured in the chest. However, he was immediately admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Hospital de São João.
Recent Incidents Of Violent In Porto
Fifteen minutes later, in the São Roque da Lameira area, the suspect approached another foreign citizen, again hurling racist insults before attacking him with a knife. The PJ highlighted:
After these actions, and in order to avoid his identification and arrest, the suspect changed his physical appearance and routines.
The continuous efforts of the PJ led to the location of the suspect. He was arrested in less than 48 hours after the crimes. The detainee will now face the judicial authority for his first interrogation and the application of coercive measures.
Ongoing Police Efforts In Porto
In recent months, downtown Porto has experienced several disturbances and hate crimes. A PSP source revealed that this has prompted a reinforcement of police surveillance in the most critical areas. In May, a group of six men armed with sticks and knives invaded a house in the Bonfim area, where a dozen immigrants lived.
Just hours later, two other allegedly racist attacks occurred against Moroccan citizens in the city center. Authorities arrested one of the attackers and placed him in preventive detention.
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