A stabbing attack disrupted the Ismaili Center in Lisbon, resulting in at least two injuries and disturbing several others. CNN Portugal reported the incident. The two known victims were women between 20 and 40 years old, and one of the center’s counselors sustained a serious injury. Police arrived at the scene and urged the assailant to surrender, but the suspect advanced toward the officers. He was ultimately shot in the leg by authorities and is now under medical observation. The assailant, identified as an Afghan national, was armed with a large knife at the time of the attack. While the motive remains unclear, officials cautioned residents to avoid the area of the city where the incident occurred.
The Ismailis are a branch of Shiite Islam. They hold that the Qur’an carries two levels of meaning: the outer meaning (zahir) and the inner meaning (batin). In Ismaili belief, the imam represents the embodiment of divine truth. Additionally, the community teaches that God infused divine essence into his prophets, who were revealed over time as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. These figures are viewed as sincere and quietly influential in guiding the interpretation of their teachings.
Earlier reports indicated a separate incident in Hamburg where an individual attacked Jehovah’s Witnesses, described as a banned organization in Russia, resulting in eight deaths, including the attacker.
This sequence of events has prompted local authorities to reinforce security measures around religious and community centers, urging calm while investigators gather evidence and work to understand the full circumstances surrounding these attacks. The focus remains on ensuring public safety and supporting those affected by the violence, as investigators seek to determine whether the Lisbon incident was isolated or connected to broader patterns of violence.
[Citation: CNN Portugal]