Portugal: Two Muslim women killed in knife attack at Muslim centre

By Nadine Osman and Ahmed J Versi

London (The Muslim News): Two Muslim women have been stabbed to death and one woman injured at an Islamic centre in Lisbon, Portuguese police say.

The suspect, reportedly of Afghan origin, was shot at the Ismaili Centre on Avenida Lusíada before being taken to a hospital.

In a statement, security services said they responded to reports of an attack at approximately 10.57 am.

“The police came across a man armed with a large knife. The attacker was given orders to stop the attack, which he disobeyed, advancing towards the police, with the knife in his hand. In execution, the police used a firearm against the person, reaching and neutralising the aggressor,” said a police spokesman.

Prime Minister António Costa expressed his solidarity with the victims’ families and the Muslim community. He said: “Everything points to this being an isolated incident.”

According to media reports the two victims were Portuguese nationals who worked on the centre’s refugee support programme.

A statement on the Ismaili Muslim website said the community was “shocked and saddened by this incident and is providing support to the families of the victims”.

“The building perimeter has been secured and the Ismaili community is cooperating fully with a police investigation,” it read.

Police did not immediately confirm the nationalities, but Observador newspaper said the father of three frequently visited the centre to study.

The motive for the attack is not yet clear.

Majority of the Muslims who attend the centre have came from Mozambique since 1970s.

[Photo:  Main courtyard of the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo By Ricardo Filipe Pereira/Creative Commons]

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