A 40-year-old man stabbed two housemates in Lagoa, Central Algarve, following an argument reportedly linked to a dispute over religious beliefs. Both victims survived thanks to prompt medical treatment and are now in intensive care. The suspect has been arrested.
The incident took place in the early hours of Tuesday, 25 August. “For reasons allegedly related to religious beliefs, the attacker became involved in an argument with one of the victims, a 42-year-old man who shares the same home and bedroom,” Portugal’s Judicial Police (PJ) said in a statement.
During the altercation, the suspect produced a pocket knife with a blade measuring around 10 centimetres, proceeding to stab the first victim eight times, striking several parts of his body, some of them potentially fatal: the abdomen, chest, causing a punctured lung, and neck.
He then went to another bedroom, kicked the door and threatened another resident, aged 35. Startled by the noise, the man came out of his room. The suspect then “unexpectedly, using the same bladed weapon, struck him on the left side of the neck, hitting the internal jugular vein”. Despite the heavy bleeding, the attacker continued, stabbing him a further four times in the neck and shoulders, according to the PJ.
The injuries sustained by the two men were not fatal thanks to the swift medical attention they received, followed by emergency surgery at hospital, and their subsequent admission to intensive care.
An investigation launched immediately by the authorities led to the suspect being fully identified and to the collection of substantial evidence, culminating in his arrest on suspicion of two counts of attempted aggravated murder.
The suspect is due to appear before an investigating judge for his first judicial hearing, where precautionary measures will be considered. The investigation is being led by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Portimão.
Source: LUSA
Photo credit: Hugo Amaral
