The unrest began following the death of Odair Moniz, a 43-year-old black man from Cape Verde, a former Portuguese colony in Africa. Moniz was shot dead on Monday while trying to attack the police with a knife in an attempt to escape.

As of Thursday, police had recorded 3 injuries and arrested 13 people involved in the riots. Multiple vehicles have been burned, including buses and police cars.

Following the shooting, several anti-racist movements and neighborhood associations called for a peaceful demonstration on Saturday in central Lisbon to protest police violence.