British 13-year-old boy stabbed to death in Portugal, reports say

The perpetrator has also died

The boy has been identified as a British teenager by the local media in Portugal, while the police believe that the former partner of the boy’s mother was the perpetrator.

The death by stabbing of both the boy, 13, and the suspected attacker are now being investigated by the country’s criminal police (Judicial Police).

The incident happened in the city of Tomar, in central Portugal.

Police said in a statement that the mother was found “showing signs of having been restrained and assaulted”, and was subsequently taken to the nearest hospital.

“Both the alleged assailant and the minor presented several injuries caused by a bladed weapon but, despite vital signs still being detectable, death was declared at the scene moments later”, authorities said.

According to the police, the National Republican Guard (GNR) were called out after the alarm had been raised about what was feared to be a domestic violence situation.

The police statement added that “inside the house, there was a strong smell of gas which, moments later, resulted in an explosion that injured one of the GNR officers.”

“The alleged perpetrator had already served a prison sentence for aggravated homicide, and the family had been flagged following domestic violence cases registered in 2022 and 2023.”

In a statement, the British Foreign Office said that they are “in contact with the local authorities following an incident in Portugal, and stand ready to provide consular support.”