Two killed in a knife attack on a Muslim center in Lisbon

Two people were killed in a knife attack at a Muslim center in the Portuguese capital Lisbon on Tuesday. In addition, several people were injured in the building near the Benfica Lisbon football stadium, police said.

The attacker was shot and wounded and taken into custody. Despite several warnings, he approached the officials with a large knife.

According to a report by the TV channel RTP, the killer is said to be a man from Afghanistan. The widower refugee is the father of three children. He underwent surgery in a hospital because of his injuries, the broadcaster reports. According to the broadcaster, the fatalities are two women aged 49 and 24 who worked at the center.

When asked, a police spokesman told the German press agency that a terrorist attack was assumed. RTP reported that experts from the National Anti-Terrorist Unit had been deployed to the Ismaili center, which was largely cordoned off, alongside a large contingent of police.

Prime Minister António Costa sent his condolences to the families of the victims. It is still too early to speculate about the motives of the perpetrator. “We have to wait for the results of the investigation,” he said. Portugal is considered one of the safest countries in the world. So far it has been spared Islamist-motivated attacks.

Established in 1996, the Ismaili Center claims to be the first religious, cultural and social meeting place for Ismailis on the European mainland. There are about 15 million Ismailis worldwide – mainly in India, Pakistan, Syria, Afghanistan and Iran.

In Portugal, about 8,000 people belong to the religious community. They mainly come from Southeast African Mozambique (a former colony of Portugal). According to their own statements, the Ismailis reject any form of fundamentalism. (saw/sda/dpa)