Portugal has not increased it terrorist alert level but national authorities are following intently the inquiry into today’s explosions in Brussels that left over 30 people dead, with more expected to die as a result of the blasts.
The bomb attacks this morning at Brussels’ Zaventem airport and on the city's metro has kicked European security services into overdrive but Portugal remains calm with the proviso that it can upgrade its security level at short notice.
There was a security alert today at Lisbon’s Portela airport as police took no chances when a suspicious bag was reported.
The airport was evacuated as the abandoned bag was dealt with. The public was allowed back in after about 20 minutes.
A spokesman for the security police said the evacuation was a normal procedure as an object needs only to be abandoned for a few seconds before an alert procedure is activated.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the Brussels attacks Police are hunting a suspect who fled from the airport after the blast and local media said police had found an intact and undetonated suicide vest in the airport area.
Police issued a wanted notice for a young man wearing a hat who was caught on CCTV pushing a luggage trolley at the airport next to two other men who later blew themselves up in the terminal, killing at least 10 people.
Officials said 20 died on the metro train close to European Union institutions with the suspicion that this also was the result of a successful suicide bomber.
Four days ago, Belgian police captured the prime suspect, Salah Abdeslam, in the Paris attacks last November.
It is not clear if Abdeslam was involved in planning the airport and metro attacks.
A witness heard shouts in Arabic and shots shortly before the two blasts filled the airport departure lounge.
Islamic State issued a statement, "We promise the crusader alliance against the Islamic State that they will have black days in return for their aggression against the Islamic State."
Belgium, home to the European Union and the headquarters of NATO, has sent warplanes to take part in operations against Islamic State in the Middle East.
Portuguese police have reinforced surveillance at critical points such as airports and places where crowds gather, as a precautionary measure following the Brussels attacks.
"All Forces and Security Services that comprise the Anti-Terrorism Coordination Unit are working in full coordination and are monitoring the events that are taking place in Brussels, while maintaining contact with their counterparts and collecting all the data necessary for evaluation," according to a statement from the office of the General Secretary for Portugal’s Homeland Security System.
A source from the Foreign and Borders Service said that passenger control at national airports has been strengthened, despite not raising the national alert level.
Comments
Meanwhile some citizens on a remote B road see some dodgy geezers park up a white Peugeot with Spanish numbers including a KG and a 20. Jumping into a blue Seat with Portuguese numbers - maybe a MW in it and continuing eastwards. But as no one has mentioned it in the news - it is none of their business to discuss it further.
You get a sense of how far Portugal still needs to develop from the article in a recent Portugal Resident about the armed bank robber gang last Sunday evading 3 Portuguese police forces (one the PJ's counter terrorism unit) in a hijacked Citroen having killed another passer-by.
Amongst comments - :
Where is the information that should have come forwards from CCTV cameras - particularly as the gang will have gone through at least one motorway turnstile?
All this having robbed an armoured van refilling an ATM outside a cafe wherein the witnesses, desperate not to be involved in case they get made 'arguidos'- only noted a "light vehicle".
http://portugalresident.com/police-manhunt-underway-after-father-of-two-slain-by-armed-gang#sthash.dL54XLZI.dpuf