An activist was detained on Sunday after raising the Palestinian flag on the 25 de Abril Bridge, announced the Lisbon Metropolitan Command of the Public Security Police (PSP).
In a statement to the press, the authority detailed that officers from the Traffic Division stationed at the 25 de Abril Bridge police post were alerted by Lusoponte’s Command and Control Center to the presence of an individual walking on one of the side metal pipes of the bridge deck moving from south to north, attempting to reach the highest point of the structure.
Officers promptly arrived at kilometer 3.500 of the A2 and observed that the individual was at a considerable height.
Due to being approximately 190 meters high, initial efforts to communicate with the individual to dissuade him from continuing were unsuccessful.
However, “after about ten minutes, it was observed that the individual placed a large Palestinian flag atop the pillar of the 25 de Abril Bridge” and moved along “the entire pillar with another smaller flag.”
In response to the threat to people and property, and in coordination with elements of Infraestruturas de Portugal, it was necessary to access the top of the bridge through the interior of one of the pillars to establish direct contact with the individual and ensure his safe descent, explained the PSP.
To the officers, the man explained his action as a form of protest, claiming it was the only way to be heard regarding the Palestinian issue.
According to the authority, the activist is believed to have accessed the site through the Fertagus tunnel starting at Pragal.
The PSP seized a large Palestinian flag, a smaller Palestinian flag with a handle, a nylon rope, a roll of electrical tape, a tablet, a power bank, and a safety harness.
Today a activist climbed the Bridge in Lisbon – 25th of April Bridge for Palestine
Hoje um activista subiu à Ponte em Lisboa – Ponte 25 de Abril pela Palestina#FreePalestine #PTrevolutionTV #indymediaPT pic.twitter.com/KtFCuIUMFt— PTrevolutionTV (@PTrevolutionTV) October 19, 2025
The activist is scheduled to appear tomorrow, October 20, at the Lisbon Court, Local Criminal Instance of Lisbon – Minor Criminal Section.
[News updated at 18:27]
