A Lisbon Municipal Police officer has been suspended for 75 days following a controversial incident where he headbutted two tuk-tuk drivers in Praça do Comércio. The altercation, which occurred in May 2024, was captured on amateur video and quickly went viral, sparking widespread debate.
According to reports, the officer, who is also a member of the PSP (Public Security Police) on a service commission with the Municipal Police, was involved in regulating traffic when the incident unfolded. The confrontation began after several tuk-tuks were found obstructing the road and sidewalk. Despite repeated honking, the drivers refused to move their vehicles.
The situation escalated when the officers exited their vehicle and demanded the drivers remove their tuk-tuks immediately. Ignored once again, they announced their intention to issue fines and requested the drivers' documents. The report details "small taps on the shoulder" of one driver to hurry him along, which further inflamed tensions.
In a moment of heightened conflict, the principal officer allegedly ran towards one of the drivers and delivered a violent headbutt to his face, causing him to stagger. The victim was then pushed, despite having his hands raised in a non-threatening manner. Another driver, who approached the scene shouting provocations, was also headbutted, resulting in a bloody nose.
The officer, who has been with the PSP since 1998 and had a previously clean disciplinary record, was found to have violated duties of correctness and decorum. The suspension was ordered by the then Minister of Internal Administration, Margarida Blasco, following an investigation by the General Inspectorate of Internal Administration (IGAI).
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