Militancy/Terrorism

18
Jun 2025
13:07 UTC

Portugal Alert: Authorities arrest six far-right extremists, seize weapons, including 3D-printed firearms, on June 17; feasibility of coordinated attack low, despite growing threat

Current Situation

  • On June 17, Portuguese authorities arrested six individuals in a coordinated national operation targeting a suspected far-right militant group. The Policia Judiciaria (PJ), via Unidade Nacional de Combate ao Terrorismo (UNCT), executed 15 search warrants across multiple regions in “Operation Disarmament 3D.”
  • The suspects are allegedly affiliated with the “Movimento Armilar Lusitano,” described by PJ officials as a radical right-wing group seeking to establish itself as a political movement supported by an armed militia. Authorities indicated the detainees face suspicion of terrorism-related activities, inciting hatred and violence, and illegal possession of weapons.
  • The group was formed in 2018, with activity intensifying during the COVID-19 pandemic. The PJ indicated that it had been monitoring the group since 2021. Authorities said the suspects were part of an anti-authority, conspiratorial ideology that espouses xenophobia, anti-immigrant rhetoric, and violent opposition to democratic institutions.
  • Authorities seized firearms, explosives, knives, ammunition, computer equipment, and several functional 3D-printed firearms, as well as four 3D printers.
  • Among those arrested is a senior official of the Policia de Seguranca Publica (PSP), currently in a leadership position in Lisbon’s Municipal Police. Other suspects had connections with private security groups and potentially security personnel.
  • Authorities confirmed tactical preparations, including paramilitary training with airsoft weapons, face-to-face recruitment nationwide, and dissemination of neo-Nazi content online to over 900 followers. Seizures also included neo-Nazi literature, propaganda from far-right Portuguese group “1143,” and flags associated with German neo-Nazis.
  • Media sources suggested the group was allegedly planning a violent takeover of Portugal’s Parliament, similar in style to the January 6 attack on the Capitol Building in Washington, DC, USA, in 2021. The PJ stated the investigation remains ongoing and could lead to further arrests. 

Source: Reuters 

Assessments & Forecast

  1. The suspects’ paramilitary training, possession of explosives, and the seizure of functional 3D-printed firearms strongly indicate their high level of preparedness and resources. This suggests that they posed a credible threat to public safety. Moreover, media reports alluding to the US Capitol January 6 attack, if confirmed, would indicate that the group did in fact have a target. However, an organized militia-led coup targeting government institutions remains highly unfeasible in Portugal, as attack plots involving multiple individuals are typically detected and disrupted by authorities, thereby lowering the likelihood of success. 
  2. Furthermore, the security operation itself reflects authorities’ monitoring of the threat posed by far-right extremist actors within Portugal, considering the group was under surveillance since 2021. While large-scale attacks are a rarity in Portugal, far-right attacks in the form of assaults have been reported in 2024 and 2025. Most recently, on Portugal Day, the national day celebrated on June 10, neo-Nazis physical assaulted two female volunteers distributing food to the homeless in Porto, while 30 suspected neo-Nazis physically assaulted actors outside a theater in Lisbon also on June 10.
  3. The suspects’ use of functional 3D-printed firearms underscores far-right actors’ sustained preference for such weapons, given their ability to evade firearms regulations and detection. This trend has been observed elsewhere in Europe, notably in the 2019 Halle attack in Germany, where far-right extremist Stephan Balliet used homemade and 3D-printed firearms to carry out a shooting at a synagogue. On May 14, three neo-Nazi extremists arrested in February 2024 were convicted for constructing a 3D-printed firearm and stockpiling over 200 weapons while planning attacks on mosques and synagogues in the UK.
  4. The involvement of a senior PSP official among those arrested is also notable as it reflects a pattern of prevalent far-right activity within law enforcement and military agencies. Indeed, police and armed forces are often attractive to individuals with far-right and nationalist views, with many of the concepts common among far-right ideologies overlapping with those often found within military structures, such as strong national identity and physical “superiority”.
  5. Consequently, the potential for radicalization is considerably higher among armed forces and security forces. Additionally, far-right extremists are possibly infiltrating security forces in an attempt to gain access to tactical training and weapons. With that, infiltration and radicalization within security forces present a significant threat, given the potential access to weapons and associated challenges for authorities to detect and prevent extremist activity from within. 
  6. FORECAST: While no direct links have been established between the arrested individuals and mainstream far-right political parties, growing public concern over far-right extremism in Portugal may increase scrutiny of parties perceived to tolerate or legitimize extremist rhetoric. This could pressure political actors—particularly those on the right—to more explicitly distance themselves from radical elements in order to protect their legitimacy. 
  7. FORECAST: Although the likelihood of a successful large-scale far-right attack by an organization is limited, there remains a latent threat of lone actor attacks targeting minorities in Portugal, with such attacks most likely to manifest as shootings. In addition to such attacks, the risk of physical assaults by groups of far-right extremists remains heightened, particularly on the outskirts of far-right rallies. These are more likely to be opportunistic attacks, rather than premeditated, with assailants targeting minorities and left-wing political supporters.

Recommendations

  1. Travel to Portugal may continue while maintaining heightened vigilance for potential attacks by radical actors, including far-right extremists.
  2. Public and private organizations are advised to increase their awareness of threats on social media through the use of threat monitoring services.
  3. If alerted to potential suspicious activity, inform authorities immediately. 
  4. For further questions and risk assessments, please contact [email protected]. 
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL Low
AFFECTED AREA Portugal
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE Confirmed

Current Situation

  • On June 17, Portuguese authorities arrested six individuals in a coordinated national operation targeting a suspected far-right militant group. The Policia Judiciaria (PJ), via Unidade Nacional de Combate ao Terrorismo (UNCT), executed 15 search warrants across multiple regions in “Operation Disarmament 3D.”
  • The suspects are allegedly affiliated with the “Movimento Armilar Lusitano,” described by PJ officials as a radical right-wing group seeking to establish itself as a political movement supported by an armed militia. Authorities indicated the detainees face suspicion of terrorism-related activities, inciting hatred and violence, and illegal possession of weapons.
  • The group was formed in 2018, with activity intensifying during the COVID-19 pandemic. The PJ indicated that it had been monitoring the group since 2021. Authorities said the suspects were part of an anti-authority, conspiratorial ideology that espouses xenophobia, anti-immigrant rhetoric, and violent opposition to democratic institutions.
  • Authorities seized firearms, explosives, knives, ammunition, computer equipment, and several functional 3D-printed firearms, as well as four 3D printers.
  • Among those arrested is a senior official of the Policia de Seguranca Publica (PSP), currently in a leadership position in Lisbon’s Municipal Police. Other suspects had connections with private security groups and potentially security personnel.
  • Authorities confirmed tactical preparations, including paramilitary training with airsoft weapons, face-to-face recruitment nationwide, and dissemination of neo-Nazi content online to over 900 followers. Seizures also included neo-Nazi literature, propaganda from far-right Portuguese group “1143,” and flags associated with German neo-Nazis.
  • Media sources suggested the group was allegedly planning a violent takeover of Portugal’s Parliament, similar in style to the January 6 attack on the Capitol Building in Washington, DC, USA, in 2021. The PJ stated the investigation remains ongoing and could lead to further arrests. 

Source: Reuters 

Assessments & Forecast

  1. The suspects’ paramilitary training, possession of explosives, and the seizure of functional 3D-printed firearms strongly indicate their high level of preparedness and resources. This suggests that they posed a credible threat to public safety. Moreover, media reports alluding to the US Capitol January 6 attack, if confirmed, would indicate that the group did in fact have a target. However, an organized militia-led coup targeting government institutions remains highly unfeasible in Portugal, as attack plots involving multiple individuals are typically detected and disrupted by authorities, thereby lowering the likelihood of success. 
  2. Furthermore, the security operation itself reflects authorities’ monitoring of the threat posed by far-right extremist actors within Portugal, considering the group was under surveillance since 2021. While large-scale attacks are a rarity in Portugal, far-right attacks in the form of assaults have been reported in 2024 and 2025. Most recently, on Portugal Day, the national day celebrated on June 10, neo-Nazis physical assaulted two female volunteers distributing food to the homeless in Porto, while 30 suspected neo-Nazis physically assaulted actors outside a theater in Lisbon also on June 10.
  3. The suspects’ use of functional 3D-printed firearms underscores far-right actors’ sustained preference for such weapons, given their ability to evade firearms regulations and detection. This trend has been observed elsewhere in Europe, notably in the 2019 Halle attack in Germany, where far-right extremist Stephan Balliet used homemade and 3D-printed firearms to carry out a shooting at a synagogue. On May 14, three neo-Nazi extremists arrested in February 2024 were convicted for constructing a 3D-printed firearm and stockpiling over 200 weapons while planning attacks on mosques and synagogues in the UK.
  4. The involvement of a senior PSP official among those arrested is also notable as it reflects a pattern of prevalent far-right activity within law enforcement and military agencies. Indeed, police and armed forces are often attractive to individuals with far-right and nationalist views, with many of the concepts common among far-right ideologies overlapping with those often found within military structures, such as strong national identity and physical “superiority”.
  5. Consequently, the potential for radicalization is considerably higher among armed forces and security forces. Additionally, far-right extremists are possibly infiltrating security forces in an attempt to gain access to tactical training and weapons. With that, infiltration and radicalization within security forces present a significant threat, given the potential access to weapons and associated challenges for authorities to detect and prevent extremist activity from within. 
  6. FORECAST: While no direct links have been established between the arrested individuals and mainstream far-right political parties, growing public concern over far-right extremism in Portugal may increase scrutiny of parties perceived to tolerate or legitimize extremist rhetoric. This could pressure political actors—particularly those on the right—to more explicitly distance themselves from radical elements in order to protect their legitimacy. 
  7. FORECAST: Although the likelihood of a successful large-scale far-right attack by an organization is limited, there remains a latent threat of lone actor attacks targeting minorities in Portugal, with such attacks most likely to manifest as shootings. In addition to such attacks, the risk of physical assaults by groups of far-right extremists remains heightened, particularly on the outskirts of far-right rallies. These are more likely to be opportunistic attacks, rather than premeditated, with assailants targeting minorities and left-wing political supporters.

Recommendations

  1. Travel to Portugal may continue while maintaining heightened vigilance for potential attacks by radical actors, including far-right extremists.
  2. Public and private organizations are advised to increase their awareness of threats on social media through the use of threat monitoring services.
  3. If alerted to potential suspicious activity, inform authorities immediately. 
  4. For further questions and risk assessments, please contact [email protected]. 
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL Low
AFFECTED AREA Portugal
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE Confirmed

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