Junta President Bonfim condemns ‘acts of popular justice’ against migrants in Porto

The president of the parish council of Bonfim, where the attacks on migrants in Porto took place early on Friday morning, this Sunday condemned “acts of popular justice” and expressed hope that the police investigation would proceed quickly.

“I condemn this type of popular justice above all else. This doesn’t make any sense,” said board president João Aguiar.

In a conversation with Lusa, Joao Aguiar specified that the disrespect and attacks in Bonfim began at the end of last year, but since the beginning of this year they have intensified.

The mayor, who met with traders and local residents in March over a “wave” of robberies at commercial establishments and on public roads, said the PSP had mobilized and responded quickly to requests from the junta, increasing its efforts in certain areas such as in Campo. 24 August.

“After that meeting, I became more attentive. I spoke to the police and the commander was ready to send troops into the field. Since then, the situation began to calm down a little,” he said, adding, however, that traders report that when the police are absent, there is disrespect continues.

While praising the police for their “quick work”, Joao Aguiar, however, said there was a need to strengthen the police force.

“Now that the situation is escalating, reinforcement is needed,” he said, and also expressed hope that the police investigation into the attacks “will be swift.”

“We will wait for the results of the investigation,” he stressed, saying that “we do not want to incite racism and hatred.”

“We are the most multicultural parish in the city of Porto,” citing as an example Rua Fernandez Tomás street, where “a Turkish shop, an African hair salon, a Korean supermarket and a Brazilian restaurant” have coexisted for several years.

“They are all complaining about security from a certain group,” he added.

Early on Friday morning, there were three attacks on immigrants in the Campo 24 de Agosto area, on Rua do Bonfim and Rua Fernandez Tomas. According to PSP, the attacks were carried out by multiple groups and five immigrants were taken to hospital due to their injuries.

So far, victims of the attacks have not contacted the parish council, Joao Aguiar said, adding that he intends to send two social workers on Monday to visit the migrants and monitor the situation.

Following the attacks, six men were identified and one was arrested for illegal weapons possession.

Given the suspicion of a hate crime, the judicial police began to investigate the case.

In a conversation with Lusa, the Chamber of Porto said that it has no authority in matters of public security and that this is “the responsibility of the Ministry of Internal Administration and the police authorities under its control.”

“However, as a result of the high visibility of municipal police [PM] in the city of Porto and within the framework of the principle of complementarity and articulation of efforts with the PSP, the Prime Minister controls visibility in the most critical areas of the city, where there is a strong influx and presence of people in public places, as well as in scenarios of recurrence of criminal phenomena,” said he, adding that in these cases “the contours are different,” which is also the responsibility of the judicial police.

Luse João Aguiar said that a meeting between the council, traders, residents and the Porto PSP Metropolitan Command is scheduled for the second half of this month.

The Porto City Council announced this Sunday in a statement that President Rui Moreira will comment on the attacks at the start of Monday’s executive meeting, scheduled for 9:30 am.