Portuguese authorities have arrested 37 individuals suspected of involvement in an ultra right extremist group following a large scale police operation carried out across several parts of the country. The coordinated action involved around 300 officers and focused on dismantling a network accused of promoting violent ideology and targeting ethnic minorities. According to investigators, those detained are suspected of engaging in hate crimes driven racist and xenophobic motives to intimidate, persecute, and assault immigrants and other vulnerable communities. Searches conducted during the operation led to the seizure of various weapons and propaganda materials linked to neo Nazi ideology. Officials described the arrests as part of an ongoing effort to counter extremist movements that seek to organise covertly and incite violence, stressing that public safety and the protection of democratic values remain central priorities for law enforcement.
Police sources said the group operated under the name 1143, a reference to the year Portugal became a kingdom, and maintained ideological and operational links with similar organisations abroad. Authorities allege that the group actively promoted national socialist beliefs and sought to radicalise supporters through coordinated messaging and recruitment efforts. Its leader, Mario Machado, is already serving a prison sentence after previous convictions related to racial discrimination, hate speech, and violent acts. Investigators believe the network continued to operate despite earlier interventions, adapting its structure to avoid detection. The latest operation follows earlier arrests made last year, when police disrupted plans suspected neo Nazi elements to form an illegal armed militia, seizing firearms and explosive materials during that investigation.
The arrests come amid heightened scrutiny of extremist activity in Portugal, as civil society groups warn of rising hate speech and attacks targeting immigrant communities. Political analysts note that the issue has gained visibility alongside the electoral growth of the far right party Chega, which has become a major force in parliament decades after the country transitioned to democracy. While authorities stress that extremist groups do not represent the broader political system, officials acknowledge the importance of early intervention to prevent radicalisation from translating into organised violence. The latest police action is being presented as a clear signal that extremist activity will be pursued through judicial means, regardless of political context, as Portugal seeks to uphold public order and counter threats linked to organised hate movements.
