Two women have died today after being stabbed at the Ismaili Center in Lisbon, the Portuguese police reported. The alleged perpetrator of the attack is an Afghan citizen who was brandishing a large knife.
Upon moving to the scene, the police ordered the suspect to surrender; by failing to do so, he was “neutralized”, according to the police, and taken to a Lisbon hospital where he remains under surveillance.
The police confirmed that there are “several injuries”, but did not specify the number or severity. The two fatalities were working in the center when the attack took place, according to the public network RTP.
The Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, affirmed that everything indicates that it is “an isolated act”, adding that it was “premature” to make any interpretation of the crime.
Police had no immediate comment but said they would release more information later Tuesday. The identity of the victims is unknown at this time.
The Ismailis are a minority current within Shiite Islam, whose members have been attacked by extremist groups in countries like Pakistan. Portugal has not recorded any significant terrorist attacks in recent decades.
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