Six neo-Nazis arrested, including senior Police Officer
The detainees are suspected of being part of the so-called Movimento Armilar Lusitano (MAL), which wanted to set itself up as ‘a political movement, supported by an armed militia’.
On Tuesday, June 17, the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) announced the arrest of six individuals linked to the far-right, neo-Nazi organization Movimento Armilar Lusitano (MAL, which translates as “Evil”), including a senior official from Lisbon’s Municipal Police.
The arrests, carried out as part of Operação Desarme 3D, mark a significant escalation in law enforcement’s response to rising extremist threats.
They are particularly notable for the unprecedented seizure of fully operational 3D-printed firearms, a first in Portugal.
The individuals are suspected of preparing terrorist activities, inciting hatred and violence, and illegally possessing weapons.
Attacks on institutions
The searches took place in Greater Lisbon, with authorities monitoring in-person meetings as part of an investigation that began in 2021.
“It’s not easy (to investigate) because it’s a difficult environment to penetrate. These individuals are highly alert to the actions of authorities,” officials noted.
Regarding the classification of the group, Manuela Santos stated that MAL falls under “anti-terrorism laws” and the “violent overthrow of the rule of law.”
“There wasn’t yet a concrete plan” to “carry out a criminal act,” explained the UNCT coordinator, but she emphasized that the goal was to “attack institutions,” similar to the actions of other such groups internationally.
According to Público, one of these targeted institutions was Parliament.
The PJ leader recalled the German authorities’ large-scale operation in 2022, which dismantled a group attempting a coup.
“These are people from diverse backgrounds,” united by “discrimination based on gender identity, race, or creed.”
The pandemic intensified MAL’s activities, as with other referenced “anti-system groups,” admitted Manuela Santos, stressing that “everything ends up being used as an argument to oppose the current system.”
Details
Searches carried out in three key locations led to the discovery of explosives, conventional firearms, knives, Nazi propaganda materials, and 3D-printed guns capable of firing live ammunition.
These weapons, being plastic, are nearly impossible to detect with standard metal scanners, posing a serious security challenge.
The extremist cell, composed entirely of Portuguese nationals, mostly men, was reportedly training and recruiting members to form an armed militia.
The group had been under investigation since 2021, and authorities now believe it had developed tactical capabilities sufficient to organize violent operations.
Core ideology
The PJ confirmed that the movement’s core ideology included racial, religious, and gender-based discrimination.
Their online communication platforms, including a Telegram channel with over 900 members, regularly disseminated hate speech and neo-Nazi rhetoric, such as “only ethnic nationalism exists.”
Among the seized items were flags and stickers associated with 1143, a known neo-Nazi faction led by Mário Machado, currently jailed for hate crime, as well as symbols linked to German far-right groups.
While no specific attack plans were uncovered, the group is known to have conducted airsoft weapon training, suggesting a high level of preparation.
Investigators also identified members of other disbanded far-right movements within the group, and PJ officials confirmed that further individuals connected to this network are being monitored.
Concern over scale and sophistication
Manuela Santos, outgoing head of the PJ’s Counterterrorism Unit, expressed concern at the scale and sophistication of the materials seized.
“They were recruiting, arming, and preparing tactically for an operation, perhaps undefined, but certainly envisioned,” she stated.
The PJ noted that the involvement of an active police officer is concerning but emphasized this does not reflect on Portugal’s security forces as a whole.
Still, officials acknowledged that the threat of far-right radicalization is growing, particularly among youth recruited online through disinformation and extremist propaganda.
Legal challenges
This case may lead to legislative reviews on regulating 3D-printed weapons, which fall outside current legal frameworks.
While the group is not officially designated a terrorist organization, some members were already under surveillance for extremist risk.
The six detainees will appear before a judge to determine pre-trial measures.
The investigation remains ongoing, with law enforcement continuing to analyze digital evidence and monitor affiliated networks across the country.