The articles written by the PÚBLICO Brasil team are written in the variant of the Portuguese language used in Brazil.
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Two Brazilians, aged 19 and 21, were arrested last weekend by the Lisbon Judiciary Police (PJ), suspected of committing a series of violent crimes in Portugal and Belgium. Arriving in the country at the beginning of the year, the individuals began to attract victims through gay dating apps, such as Grindr, where they arranged meetings with men. However, what was supposed to be an intimate encounter turned into a violent ambush, with victims beaten, drugged and robbed in their own homes.
Between June and September this year, two victims, aged 37 and 67, were attacked in their homes in Cascais and Amadora, with both being hospitalized due to their injuries. The 67-year-old man suffered more serious injuries and was held captive for several minutes before managing to escape.
The investigation, launched shortly after the complaints, revealed that the suspects were already involved in similar crimes in Belgium. One of the most serious cases occurred in August, in Ixelles, where an arranged meeting resulted in the death of a man and serious injuries to two other people. During the attack, the assailants shot a 22-year-old student and his parents, resulting in the father’s death. The mother and son survived, but were seriously injured.
The Portuguese authorities, in collaboration with the Belgian authorities, managed to locate and detain the suspects, who are now awaiting trial. To date, no direct link has been established between young people and any criminal organization.
These tragic incidents are a wake-up call to the vulnerability our LGBTQIAPN+ community faces when using online dating platforms. Although they seem like a practical way to meet new people, these platforms can be easily manipulated by individuals with bad intentions. The internet, while providing anonymity, can also be a dangerous space if the necessary precautions are not taken.
It is essential that we pay extra attention when interacting online and, especially, when inviting someone to our home. As tempting as it is to quickly trust whoever is on the other side of your cell phone screen, the truth is that we can never be sure of the intentions of someone we meet virtually.
This is an appeal to our LGBTQIAPN+ community in Portugal: let us take all necessary precautions and protect each other. May these stories remind us of the importance of remaining vigilant to prevent more cases of violence, and even homicides, from occurring. Taking care of ourselves and our loved ones is vital so that our community can continue to exist safely and respectfully.
May this alert serve as a reflection for all of us and may we, together, build a safer and more welcoming environment.
