LISBON, Portugal: Authorities in Portugal are bringing charges of torture, assault, providing false statements and other crimes against 18 police officers over alleged racist conduct.
The Lisbon attorney general’s office said the crimes refer to an incident in 2015, when police clashed with young black men in a poor neighborhood near Lisbon.
A brief statement on the attorney general’s website Tuesday said the police officers are suspected of “severe abuse” of their position and neglecting their duty. It accuses them of offensive acts and insults, without describing the alleged crimes in detail.
Authorities launched an investigation after some of the young men alleged police had beaten and insulted them following their arrest. The charges say the police involved lied to investigators about what had happened.
Mussolini posters to be removed from Italian beach
Italian government authorities have ordered the removal of pro-fascist posters at a beach near Venice.
Ansa, the Italian news agency, said the ordinance issued on Monday by the prefect based in Venice cited concerns that public order could be disturbed by signs and photos of Benito Mussolini, Italy’s wartime fascist dictator. Italian law forbids glorifying fascism.
One of the signs proclaimed the area to be an “anti-democratic” zone.
Rome daily La Repubblica reported on Sunday that pro-Mussolini speeches were blasted over the Chioggia beach’s loudspeaker, and that one sign warned that facilities on the beach were for paying customers, otherwise “a truncheon on your teeth.” It quoted the 64-year-old owner of the concession as saying: “Here, my rules count.”
Italian beaches usually have a snack bar, changing rooms, bathrooms and beach chairs available for a fee, operated by a concession-holder who pays the local authorities.
Portugal charges 18 policemen over ‘racist conduct’
Portugal charges 18 policemen over ‘racist conduct’
