Francisco Rodrigues, president of the Observatory of Security, Organized Crime, and Terrorism (OSCOT), stated that the exclusion of a chapter on extremism is “understandable” due to ongoing investigations.
In the preliminary version of the RASI, no far-right organization is classified as terrorist in Portugal, although there is evidence of a branch of an international extremist organization considered terrorist in other countries.
Without specifying the organization, this version of the RASI noted the presence of this extremist group’s branch in Portugal, which has faced financial sanctions in various countries for terrorism funding.
“I believe that providing information to the general public that might hinder ongoing investigations should be avoided,” explained Francisco Rodrigues.
On the 17th, the Judicial Police dismantled a far-right armed militia, marking the largest operation of its kind in Portugal, seizing hundreds of ammunition, military weapons, and explosives.
“The quality and diversity of what we seized were surprising,” said Manuela Santos, director of the National Counter-Terrorism Unit (UNCT) within the Judicial Police, during the review of Operation “Disarm 3D,” which led to the arrest of six individuals from the Armilar Lusitanian Movement (MAL).
“They were arming themselves, recruiting people, and executing actions,” noted Manuela Santos, highlighting that the seized materials “have an origin and everything is open regarding this,” with “new lines of investigation.”
Among the six detainees was a PSP officer, with others linked to private security groups.
Luís Fernandes, president of the Internal Security Observatory (OSI), recalled that the institutions contributing to the RASI justified the exclusion of the chapter on extremism.
“It is more than evident today that it was necessary to remove the chapter to avoid drawing attention to the ongoing investigations at that time.”
“When everything occurring is identified in the RASI, anyone breaking the law and realizing they are under investigation will stop and cease their illegal activities,” he stated.
Therefore, “it made no sense to publish it at that time,” he added.
The 2024 RASI will be assessed today during the parliamentary plenary session.
