Confrontations between nationalists and other protesters during a demonstration in Lisbon
On the last 21st January 2012 some protesters were involved in physical and verbal confrontations with a group of the nationalist movement Movimento de Oposição Nacional [National Oposition Movement] during a manifestation against governmental measures and the reform of labour law organised in Lisbon by the Portuguese Platform of the 15th October international movement. Protesters were involved in physical and verbal confrontations with a group of around 10 people from the nationalist movement which wanted to join the demonstration. The exchange of words ultimately generated physical violence and two flags were set on fire. Police intervention was required and the nationalist group was escorted, with the two groups marching separated by about 150 metres away. Police prevented the nationalist group from arriving near the Portuguese Parliament, where was set to be a concentration.
The clashes between protesters follow the incidents between a group of neo-nazis and members of the movement "Occupy Lisbon" camped in front of the Portuguese Republic Assembly on the dawn of the 21st October 2011. According to an eyewitness at 00:50 a.m. there was a first attack in the local campground by “a group of ten neo-nazis” who “started to pull out and to tear posters, pronouncing insults and threats”. It is said that this attack was preceded by a car passing by the campground with four to five passengers shouting insults and where one of the passengers “made the fascist salute”. According to the police a group of six individuals caused material damages with no registrations of “any type of physical confrontation nor detentions”. It was reported that at 6 a.m. police prevented another attack in the same local by “four of the previous aggressors with their heads covered but recognized by the clothes they were wearing”.
Sources:
"Confrontos entre indignados e nacionalistas em Lisboa", Correio de Manhã, 21.01.2012, http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/detalhe/noticias/nacional/portugal/confrontos-entre-indignados-e-nacionalistas-em-lisboa-com-fotos, Date of access: 4.02.2012.
Telma Roque, "Violência entre indignados e nacionalistas numa manifestação em Lisboa", Jornal de Notícias, 21.01.2012, http://www.jn.pt/PaginaInicial/Politica/Interior.aspx?content_id=2255799&page=-1, Date of access: 4.02.2012.
"Manifestantes envolveram-se em confrontos em Lisboa", Expresso, 21.01.2012, http://expresso.sapo.pt/manifestantes-envolveram-se-em-confrontos-em-lisboa=f700719, Date of access: 4.02.2012.
Romana Borja-Santos and Rafaela Freitas, "Movimento 'Ocupar Lisboa' diz ter sido atacado por neo-nazis", Público, 21.10.2011, http://www.publico.pt/Pol%C3%ADtica/duas-pessoas-identificadas-por-provocar-desacatos-frente-a-ar-1517564 Date of access: 26.10.2011.
Ocupar Lisboa, 21.10.2011, http://ocuparlisboa.com/2011/10/21/ataque-de-extrema-direito-a-s-bento/, Date of access: 26.10.2011.
