A severed human head was delivered to a hospital just hours after the discovery of a headless body in the city centre — in one of the most gruesome crimes to hit the Portuguese capital of Lisbon in years. Police were called at about 6.45am on Wednesday to a narrow dead-end street, Patio Salema, behind the Lisbon Coliseum and near several major tourist sites. Officers found the mutilated body of a man lying in the street, without a head.
The victim was later identified as a 34-year-old foreign national who was legally residing in Portugal. According to police, he had been killed and decapitated during the night of July 29 to 30. Just hours later, a man walked into Lisbon’s São José Hospital carrying a human head and told staff he wanted to hand it over.
A police spokesperson said: “The suspect presented himself voluntarily at a hospital unit in Lisbon, carrying a human head which he stated he wanted to hand over.”
The PSP (Public Security Police) contacted the Polícia Judiciaria (PJ), who arrested the man and launched a full investigation.
The 29-year-old foreign suspect is now “strongly indicted” for the crimes of aggravated homicide, desecration of a corpse, and possession of a prohibited weapon.
During the arrest, several items of evidence were seized, including “the knife presumed to have been used in the commission of the crime”.
The police spokesperson continued: “Objects of evidentiary interest were seized, including the knife presumed to have been used in the commission of the crime.”
“Elements were also collected that point to the human head belonging to the victim.”
“No evidence was collected that linked the crime to drug trafficking or consumption.”
Instead, they suspect a personal motive may lie behind the brutal act.
The spokesperson continued: “Underlying the acts committed appear to be reasons of a personal nature, despite the fact that the two individuals had only known each other for a short time.”
The suspect is due to appear before a judge for an initial hearing, during which the application of coercive measures — including possible remand — will be considered.
Lisbon, typically seen as one of Europe’s safest capital cities, has been left stunned by the crime.
The investigation remains open. Police are continuing to collect evidence and have urged any witnesses or individuals with relevant information to come forward.