Not less than two individuals have been killed and several other injured in a knife assault on the Ismaili Heart in Lisbon, Portuguese police say.
An unidentified man carrying a big knife attacked the Shi’ite Muslim middle in Lisbon simply earlier than 11am on Tuesday, a police assertion stated.
The attacker was shot after refusing to put down his weapon and approaching officers with the knife.
He was arrested and brought to hospital.
CNN Portugal stated the alleged attacker was an Afghan citizen.
Police didn’t instantly affirm his nationality.
A lot of individuals trying distressed had been standing exterior the middle in Lisbon amid a closely armed police presence and had been later taken into the constructing.
Prime Minister Antonio Costa stated every part indicated that it was an remoted act, and it was untimely to make any interpretation in regards to the crime.
Ismailis are a minority inside Shi’ite Islam whose members have been attacked by extremist teams in international locations similar to Pakistan.
Prince Karim Aga Khan, religious chief of the world’s Ismailis, opened the middle in Lisbon in 1998, full with prayer halls, school rooms, assembly rooms and exhibition areas.
The Ismaili group in Portugal is likely one of the largest in continental Europe, numbering hundreds, together with many who fled Mozambique throughout its civil conflict.
