Portugal police dismantle armed far-right group, arrest six
LISBON, June 17 (Reuters) - Portuguese police have arrested six people suspected of belonging to a far-right group seeking to create an illegal armed militia, and seized firearms and explosives, police said on Tuesday, adding that those arrested faced terrorism charges.
The arrests follow several incidents over the past few months involving other far-right and neo-Nazi groups in Portugal, where the anti-immigration party Chega last month became the second-largest parliamentary force, raising concerns about hate speech.
Those arrested, including a senior police officer according to Publico newspaper, are believed to belong to the otherwise little-known Lusitanian Armillary Movement, whose name alludes to one of Portugal's national symbols, the armillary sphere.
They are facing charges of being part of a terrorist group, incitement of hatred and violence, and possession of banned weapons, police said in a statement.
Among the weapons seized were automatic firearms, some made with 3D printers, edged weapons as well as ammunition.
Police said the group sought to establish itself as a political movement backed by an armed militia.
The investigation started after authorities detected online activity that they said displayed strong signs of radical nationalist extremism with calls for violence against immigrants and refugees.
The European Union has said hate speech is on the rise in Portugal, where four decades of fascist dictatorship ended in a 1974 revolution, and the far right is gaining support after Chega became the main opposition in parliament in last month's election.
A week ago, a group of neo-Nazis attacked several actors outside a Lisbon theatre during Portugal Day celebrations, prompting the government, criticised by left-wing parties for what they see as failure to take action against far-right groups, to condemn the violence and promise an investigation.
In April, far-right groups provoked clashes in downtown Lisbon, marring celebrations of the 51st anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, which ended the dictatorship.
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