The suspect allegedly broke a building window with a stone and entered wielding two knives, threatening to kill a person who was staying inside, according to a statement from the Prosecutor’s Office of the District of Lisbon West.
The 22-year-old suspect was arrested “in the act” at 5:20 a.m. on Sunday by officers from the Amadora branch of the Public Security Police (PSP), according to a statement from the Metropolitan Command of Lisbon (Cometlis) of the PSP.
The incident occurred at the Damaia Mosque—Masjid Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq RA, in Amadora, with no injuries reported.
The arrest followed a call to emergency services reporting an individual causing disturbances and brandishing weapons inside the place of worship.
Witnesses stated that “the man allegedly issued death threats and caused significant damage inside the mosque, including the destruction of windows and other property,” as per the statement.
The main victim, one of the religious leaders, managed to protect himself by barricading in a room until the PSP arrived.
The PSP also noted that the knives were confiscated, and the damages were recorded for investigative purposes.
The suspect, a foreign national, appeared in court today and was subjected to the preventive detention measure, which was replaced by preventive internment.
