Policemen have arrested a suspect man after he stabbed two women to death and injured a third at the Ismaili Center in Lisbon Portugal on Tuesday.
Sources have confirmed today’s incident at the Ismaili Center in Lisbon to Khaama Press, stating the suspect was an Afghan national armed with a knife, that killed two women.
The Ismaili Center in Lisbon in an official press release stated the man armed with a knife entered the premises of the center around 11:30 am today, and the attacker has been taken into custody by policemen after he stabbed two women to death and injured a third one.
According to another source that has spoken to CNN, the suspect was an Afghan refugee who used to study English language at the Ismaili Center and the victims are his teacher and classmate.
The Ismaili community is utterly shocked and saddened by the horrific incident and is providing support to the families of the victims.
Prime Minister António Costa conveyed his solidarity with the victims’ families and to the Ismaili community. He said police were investigating the attack and it was too soon to speculate about a motive.
This is the first time such a terror incident is taking place at a religious institution in Portugal, where religious violence is virtually unheard of.
The Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, generally known as the Ismailis, belong to the Shia branch of Islam. Ismailies are believed to be one of the most liberal and progressive communities within Islam.
“The Ismaili Muslims are a culturally diverse community living in more than 25 countries, mainly in Central and South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, North America, and Australia, and number approximately 12 to 15 million. The Ismailis are thus a transnational community who are responsible citizens of the countries where they live,” according to the Ismaili Center website.
Throughout their 1,400-year history, the Ismailis have been led by a living, hereditary Imam. They trace the line of Imamat in hereditary succession from Ali, the cousin, and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him).
