Neonazi Threats in Portugal: Targeted Lists, Grenade Plots & Police Involvement Exposed

The Portuguese Public Ministry and Judicial Police identified a target list created by the neonazi group Movimento Armilar Lusitano, which included Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. According to reports from Expresso and SIC Notícias, the group discussed using a 37mm grenade in an attack against the Prime Minister.

The investigation into Movimento Armilar Lusitano revealed a systematic effort to identify individuals the group labeled as “undesirables.” This list, uncovered by the Public Ministry (MP) and the Judicial Police (PJ), served as a roadmap for potential violence against high-ranking state officials, according to Expresso.

Who was on the Movimento Armilar Lusitano target list?

The list of targets focused on the highest levels of the Portuguese government. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa were primary figures on the list of “undesirables,” according to reports from Observador and Expresso.

The group used these lists to categorize individuals they believed were enemies of their ideology. The Judicial Police are currently analyzing the full scope of the list to determine if other public figures or private citizens were targeted for violence.

What specific attacks did the group plan?

Members of the group discussed various methods of assassination and abduction. SIC Notícias reported that the group specifically deliberated on the use of a 37mm grenade against Prime Minister Montenegro.

Internal discussions within the group showed a shift in tactics. While the members considered kidnapping as a potential operation, they eventually decided to move away from that strategy. One member stated that while kidnapping was to be forgotten, a grenada de 37 mm não está fora da ementa (37mm grenade is not off the menu), according to SIC Notícias.

The group’s discussions extended beyond immediate attacks. Observador reported that the members discussed the “burying of drums,” a detail that investigators are examining to determine if it refers to the disposal of bodies or the storage of weapons and explosives.

How was a police officer involved in the group’s training?

The investigation uncovered an infiltration of state security forces. An agent of the Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP) provided training to the neonazi group, according to Público.

The officer’s involvement was not limited to logistical support. He reportedly trained the members of Movimento Armilar Lusitano specifically to defender a sua raça (defend their race), according to the report by Público.

This connection provided the group with tactical knowledge and potential insights into police movements, which the Judicial Police are now investigating to assess the level of risk the group posed to national security.

What is the current status of the investigation?

The Public Ministry and the Judicial Police are leading the ongoing operation to dismantle the cell. The identification of the target list and the involvement of a PSP agent have shifted the case from a monitoring operation to a criminal investigation into terrorism and conspiracy.

Investigators are currently cross-referencing the “undesirables” list with known associates of the group to identify any remaining threats. The case remains under the jurisdiction of the MP and PJ as they seek to determine if the planned grenade attack had reached the stage of operational preparation.