Fifteen officers from Portugal’s Public Security Police (PSP) and a security guard working at a nightlife venue were detained late on Tuesday morning, 5th May, as part of fresh investigative steps in the alleged torture case involving detainees at Lisbon’s Rato police station, according to reports by TVI/CNN Portugal.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Minister of Internal Administration confirmed that the investigation was entering a new phase. Speaking on the sidelines of celebrations marking the 18th anniversary of the PSP’s Special Police Unit (UEP) in Belas, Sintra, Luís Neves said new investigative actions were under way and that further arrests could follow depending on the evidence gathered.
The minister stated that the suspects targeted are all serving police officers who “may in some way have interacted with the deviant behaviour” allegedly carried out at Rato police station between 2024 and 2025.
Alongside the arrests, searches are being conducted at several police stations where the suspects are posted, including the headquarters of Lisbon’s 1st PSP Division.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, the PSP confirmed that 15 arrest warrants had been issued for police officers and one for a civilian. Authorities are also carrying out 14 residential searches and 16 non-residential searches, the latter at PSP police stations.
According to the statement, the measures relate to a second inquiry concerning incidents alleged to have taken place at the Rato and Bairro Alto police stations.
Nine officers have been held in pre-trial detention since early March in connection with the case. At that time, seven officers were arrested following an investigation into alleged crimes including aggravated torture, rape, assault and abuse of power at the Rato station in Lisbon. Two others had previously been detained and, following a decision on 27 April by the Central Criminal Investigation Court, will stand trial.
The principal suspect, aged 22, faces 29 charges, including six counts of torture, five of rape, one of which was allegedly carried out, and seven counts of abuse of power. A second suspect, aged 26, faces seven charges, including three counts of abuse of power and two of torture.
The two officers were the first to be arrested in the operation, in July last year, and were formally charged by prosecutors in January. The alleged crimes primarily targeted drug users, homeless individuals and foreign nationals, according to the investigation, which was triggered by complaints filed within the police force itself.
The prosecution alleges that detainees were assaulted with punches, slaps and blows from firearms, with some incidents reportedly filmed and photographed by the officers involved.
Investigators say victims were often individuals suspected of minor offences, many of them foreign nationals, undocumented migrants or people experiencing homelessness.
One reported case involves a Moroccan citizen who was allegedly sodomised with a baton by one of the accused, beaten, transported in a patrol car and later abandoned in the street.
Many of the alleged abuses were reportedly filmed and shared in WhatsApp groups involving dozens of officers.
Portugal’s General Inspectorate of Internal Administration (IGAI) has announced three disciplinary proceedings linked to the case and is also investigating officers who allegedly viewed the shared videos. An additional inquiry has been opened in cooperation with the PSP.
Source: LUSA
