Historian and former deputy Joacine Katar Moreira accused the Loures City Council, led by socialist Ricardo Leão, of being “a disgrace” on Monday. This criticism comes in response to the demolition of self-built houses in the Bairro do Talude Militar.
“Live demolition of people’s homes, many with no alternatives,” Joacine Katar Moreira wrote in a post on the social network X (formerly Twitter). “How can they leave people in the cold? The Loures City Council is a disgrace,” she accused.
The demolition of self-built houses in the Bairro do Talude Militar, ordered by the Loures municipality, began today around 12:00 pm, after police forcibly removed residents who gathered at the site to try to prevent the operation.
The operation to demolish self-built houses in the Bairro do Talude Militar began around 12:00 pm today, after police forcibly removed residents gathered at the site to try to prevent the operation.
The demolition of self-built houses in the Bairro do Talude Militar, ordered by the Loures municipality, began today around 12:00 pm, after police forcibly removed residents gathered at the site to try to prevent the operation.
Lusa | 12:29 – 14/07/2025
During the advance of machinery mobilized for the operations and following a police reinforcement at the site, officers from the PSP Rapid Intervention Team intervened with batons to remove residents, and one person was dragged on the ground, observed by Lusa on site, confirming the start of the demolition of house number 1,062 at the entrance to the neighborhood.
The councilor of the Loures City Council responsible for the Municipal Police, Paula Magalhães, who was present at the location, acknowledged the demolition of 64 self-built houses where 161 people live, clarifying that the police operation is under the city’s command.
“The Loures City Council will not permit the construction and continuation of this reality of shantytowns in the municipality of Loures,” stated the councilor in remarks to the Lusa agency.
Residents “were notified with the 48 hours required by law,” Paula Magalhães indicated.
Regarding the fact that these 48 hours fell over the weekend, preventing any action in the Portuguese judicial system, the PS councilwoman responded that it allows residents to remove their belongings from the shantytowns, “which is the purpose of the notification.”
Contacted by Lusa, the spokesperson for the Metropolitan Command of Lisbon PSP, Ana Ricardo, stated that their force is merely supporting the ongoing operation in the Bairro do Talude Militar.
“Our objective is solely to maintain public order,” emphasized the official, explaining that authorities “initially encountered great resistance,” making it necessary “to issue a dispersal order.”
Ana Ricardo confirmed the need to reinforce the police contingent but noted around 1:00 pm that operations are now proceeding “normally.”
Dozens of residents from the Bairro do Talude Militar in Loures attempted this morning to prevent the demolition of self-built houses ordered by the municipality amidst tensions with the police.
Lusa | 11:20 – 14/07/2025
The atmosphere was tense with the police, with over a dozen elements from the PSP Rapid Intervention Team forcibly removing residents from the self-built neighborhood.
Concerning this police operation, involving the use of force to remove residents, the councilor for the Municipal Police stated that the operation “is under the city’s command,” noting that the advances and retreats in the demolition process “are logistical.”
“Advances and retreats depend on the possibilities the police see for completing the work, considering that residents, or people occupying these shantytowns, have not removed their belongings, requiring some attention,” explained Paula Magalhães.
Regarding the absence of a judicial warrant for this operation, even considering that some residents have filed injunctions to halt the demolitions, the councilwoman said there is an injunction “filed for one of the shantytowns” that includes four other self-built houses “not within today’s demolition batch.”
Concerning the residents’ request for a meeting with Loures City Council President Ricardo Leão (PS) before proceeding with demolitions, the councilor admitted the city did not make itself available, considering there is “no such need,” nor does the administrative process require it.
According to the councilor, approximately 55 shantytowns have been demolished in Loures in recent months, housing “around 70 people,” and the city expects more demolitions in the Talude Militar and other neighborhoods.
“The Loures City Council will not permit the construction and continuation of this reality of shantytowns in the municipality of Loures,” affirmed Paula Magalhães, the councilor with responsibility for the Municipal Police (PS).
Lusa | 14:08 – 14/07/2025
