A PSP officer associated with the Movimento Armilar Lusitano (MAL), who was placed in preventive detention last Wednesday, was reportedly responsible for conducting in-person recruitment interviews for the neo-Nazi group.
In mid-2021, the group began recruiting new members, utilizing channels such as ‘Telegram’ and ‘Signal’ to communicate and disseminate their message, spearheaded by the police officer and a truck driver—two of the group’s founders.
Applicants were required to fill in forms with personal information, complete online questionnaires, and attend in-person interviews conducted by the PSP chief, Bruno Gonçalves, one of the six arrested by the police.
The officer, detained on Tuesday while part of the Municipal Police of Lisbon, is one of the three founders of the neo-Nazi group established in 2018. The other two founders include a truck driver, also detained on Tuesday, and a private security officer.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) indicated that hundreds of candidates were selected by filling in forms that included data such as physical constitution, profession, and military aptitude. Candidates with weapon-handling skills were preferred in this selection.
Truck driver Bruno Carrilho was responsible for evaluating candidate forms, while PSP officer Bruno Gonçalves conducted the in-person interviews. Candidates who were military personnel, security forces agents, or from the private security sector were prioritized. If positively evaluated, according to the MP, candidates were added to private channels.
Through these actions, the two defendants allegedly managed to create autonomous cells across various parts of the country, from north to south, and began acquiring materials and equipment to manufacture 3D-printed weapons.
The organization, as noted in the document, encouraged the acquisition of weapons and tactical shooting training. The aim, believed by the MP, was to propagate rejection of state institutions, ultimately aiming to eliminate the democratic rule of law.
The Judiciary Police arrested six suspects belonging to MAL on Tuesday, with four placed in preventive detention following a hearing before a judge to apply coercive measures.
Four defendants are now charged with offenses related to a terrorist group, punishable by imprisonment of 8 to 15 years, and terrorist offenses. All six defendants are charged with possession of prohibited weapons.
In the “Desarme 3D” operation, various types of explosive materials were seized, along with firearms—some 3D-printed, several 3D printers, dozens of ammunition, blades, and computer equipment, among other evidence.
Four of the six neo-Nazis from Movimento Armilar Lusitano arrested by PJ on Tuesday were placed in preventive detention, the most severe coercive measure. The PSP chief among the detainees is also one of those targeted with this measure.
Cátia Carmo | 18:21 – 18/06/2025
The Jornal de Notícias reports that MAL was created in 2018 by police officer Bruno Gonçalves, ex-emigrant Bruno Carrilho, and a security guard with the objective of “forming a political movement supported by an armed militia to confront threats” to Portugal and the Portuguese people.
