Lisbon police have launched an internal investigation after two uniformed officers allegedly refused to assist 25-year-old Pedro Almeida as he lay dying from a stabbing in Cais do Sodré on Sunday.
The Lisbon Metropolitan Command of the Public Security Police (PSP) opened the inquiry following public allegations that the officers declined to step away from a store security detail while Almeida bled on the pavement.
The homicide investigation was assumed by the Polícia Judiciária, Portugal's dedicated criminal investigation agency, after medical personnel confirmed that Almeida had died at the scene. Detectives are searching for a suspect described as a homeless man who was seen running from the location toward Terreiro do Paço, a landmark plaza nearby.
Allegations of refused assistance
The inquiry was triggered by a social media account published by witness Helena Félix, who described the fatal attack in Cais do Sodré, a busy waterfront district and transit hub in central Lisbon. Félix stated that she was at the scene with her sister when the stabbing occurred in broad daylight near a Pingo Doce supermarket.
In her account, Félix recalled seeing Almeida lying on the ground, desperate and bleeding heavily while pleading for help. She noted that members of the public requested assistance from two uniformed PSP officers who were working paid security shifts inside the supermarket while the victim was still alive.
According to Félix, the two officers told bystanders that they could not help the dying man because they were not permitted to abandon their assigned retail post. In Portugal, police officers are permitted to work off-duty security shifts for commercial establishments under an official arrangement known as gratificados, during which they wear official uniforms.
Félix also reported significant delays in the emergency medical response, stating that a firefighter ambulance took 25 minutes to arrive. She noted that the responding ambulance was dispatched from a fire station situated at the top of the street where the supermarket and the crime scene are located.
Police inquiry and disciplinary process
Following widespread circulation of the witness account online, official representatives for the PSP confirmed to news outlet Correio da Manhã that command officials had opened a formal process of inquiry.
An official PSP spokesperson stated that members of the public who make accusations against officers must present formal testimony and provide evidence to support their assertions.
Police leadership confirmed that if the internal investigation proves the allegations regarding the conduct of the two officers, formal disciplinary proceedings will be initiated against them.
Security concerns in central Lisbon
The fatal stabbing occurred amid ongoing public discussion regarding safety and crime prevention in the historic center of the Portuguese capital. Cais do Sodré and the adjacent Baixa district experience high volumes of pedestrian traffic, making them focus areas for local law enforcement.
Elite units from the PSP have previously reinforced patrols across the Baixa district to combat street crime and maintain public order. The deployment of specialized police units aims to increase security coverage in areas with high foot traffic.
Local community and business associations have repeatedly issued warnings regarding rising security concerns across the Baixa and Cais do Sodré districts. Representatives have demanded increased visible policing and the installation of video surveillance networks to deter crime in central Lisbon.
