The President of the Republic considers “security must be exercised respecting constitutional and legal rules”, but he admits that he has not seen the images that have generated criticism. The operation carried out on Thursday resulted in the arrest of two people.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa refused to comment on the actions of the authorities during the in Lisbon, on Thursday. The President of the Republic only said that Police operations of this nature must be carried out “in accordance with the law” and with “the aim of guaranteeing the safety of citizens”.
Asked about the police operation that took place in Martim Moniz and which the head of state said he had not followed because he was in Cape Verde, thus refusing to comment on the matter.
“What I can say in general, and what I have always said, is that security is very important for people’s lives and for the stability of the social, economic and political situation”, he highlighted.
The President of the Republic understands that “security must be exercised respecting constitutional and legal rules”.
Before considering going to Martim Moniz, he added, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stated that, first, he will have to “see exactly what happened”.
He stressed that police operations of this nature must be carried out “in accordance with the law” and with “the aim of guaranteeing the safety of citizens”:
“I have to verify whether, in compliance with a court decision accompanied by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in very specific cases and to guarantee the safety of citizens, whether or not there was the modesty that was indicated for this situation.”
Two people were detained
In a statement, the PSP’s Lisbon Metropolitan Command (COMETLIS) clarified, this Friday, that a special crime prevention operation in the parish of Santa Maria Maior, in Lisbon, resulted in the arrest of two people: one for possession of a prohibited weapon and drugs and another who was suspected of at least eight robbery crimes.
The huge police apparatus in the area led to the circulation of images on social media, in which, on Rua do Benformoso, dozens of people can be seen leaning against the wall, with their hands up, to be searched by the police, and comments about the need of that procedure.
