The judicial police this morning in Lisbon arrested a man suspected of blackmailing the President of the Republic of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The man, aged between 40 and 50, was at home when he was arrested by agents of the National Counterterrorism Unit of the judicial police, ruling out the existence of an organization. According to the police, the arrested man is also charged with coercion and weapons possession.
The man’s file includes previous seizures of weapons and explosives, as well as arrests and prison sentences. This violent past led the authorities to take seriously the threats he allegedly made against the Portuguese head of state last October. Rebelo de Sousa then received a letter with a bullet, a mobile phone and an ultimatum to deposit a million euros into a bank account to avoid death.
The Portuguese president is a very approachable official, who moves with a discreet security apparatus and loves mass baths, which would make him an easy target. Rebelo de Sousa downplayed the threats shortly after receiving them, recalling that he had been under more pressure when participating in television programs. The detainee will be brought before a judge at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday.
Source: La Neta Neta
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
