Riots in Lisbon – demonstration and fires after the death of a black man

Participants carried posters with the inscription ‘Justice for Odair Moniz’ in memory of the 43-year-old from the island state of Cape Verde.

Circumstances still unclear
It is still unclear under what circumstances the police check took place in the early morning of October 21 and why one of the police officers fired.

The 43-year-old allegedly resisted arrest in the town of Amadora, part of the Lisbon metropolitan area, chased officers and carried a stabbing weapon, media reported, citing police. Moniz was taken to a hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. The police are now also investigating on their own behalf.

Burning cars and garbage containers
According to media reports, there have been intermittent riots in some districts in the Lisbon region with burning cars and garbage containers, in protest and anger over police actions since the fatal incident. The press reported that areas where many immigrants live – including from former Portuguese colonies in Africa – and are considered social hotspots, have been particularly affected.

Since Monday, there have been more than 100 incidents of public unrest in the Lisbon metropolitan area, the “Público” newspaper wrote. Accordingly, more than twenty people were arrested in this regard and another seven people were injured, one of them seriously. According to the newspaper, Moniz should be buried today.