An American tourist tragically lost his life while attempting to rescue a friend from a violent robbery in a luxurious Portuguese seaside town.
The two tourists had been enjoying a night out in Cascais, a stunning suburb of Lisbon known for its famous residents, including soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
Authorities report that the 35-year-old victim rushed to aid his friend, also an American, after the latter was assaulted by three local men early Wednesday morning.
The 34-year-old friend was heading back to his hotel when the would-be robbery occurred. He was struck several times during the attack.
Despite the assault, the tourist managed to resist and escape momentarily, contacting his friend, who was still at a nearby nightclub.
When his friend arrived to assist, a verbal confrontation erupted on Rua Afonso Sanches, quickly escalating into violence, according to police statements.
One suspect knifed both tourists in the face, arms and back, according to police. The Portuguese group then fled in a vehicle parked nearby.
Cops rushed to the scene and found both men covered in blood. The 35-year-old had been stabbed in the back, and he was found ‘lying on the ground in a supine position, inanimate and with no obvious signs of life’, police said.
Americans have been warned about rising crime in a popular Portugal vacation spot after a US citizen died amid a violent attack in the street on Tuesday night
Photographs from the crime scene show blood splattered across the sidewalk, as shown above
The 35-year-old tourist was found dead in Lisbon after three men launched a bloody attack on him and his friend, 34, at Rua Afonso Sanches (pictured) around 3.20am Wednesday morning
The second victim was found sitting on the sidewalk nearby having suffered ‘minor injuries to his face and right elbow’. He was taken to the Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon for treatment.
All three suspects have been arrested. One has been charged with homicide, while the others have been charged with assault, per CNN.
The US State Department confirmed to CNN and Fox News that it was aware of the attack on two US tourists in Cascais, but they have not yet been identified.
The Daily Mail has contacted the department for more information.
Photographs from the crime scene show blood splattered across the sidewalk of a quiet and sunny tree-lined street.
Another image appears to show evidence inside a large plastic bag as forensic investigators trawl the scene.
Cascais, a picturesque seaside town just outside Lisbon, has long been a favorite of celebrities and the wealthy.
Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo maintains a residence in the area, while pop icon Madonna once lived in a nearby town.
One image appears to show evidence inside a large plastic bag as police trawled the scene
Police said a 34-year old tourist from America was walking back to his hotel when a group of three Portuguese men tried to rob him, according to CNN
The holidaymaker resisted, but the men responded by punching him multiple times. The victim tried to flee from the street (pictured), while calling his friend who was at a nightclub nearby
The town’s rolling hills, luxury villas, and stunning beaches make it a magnet for high-profile visitors from around the world.
In recent years, Cascais — and Portugal more broadly — has seen a surge in American tourists.
In the first half of 2024 alone, over 1m US visitors stayed in Portuguese hotels and accommodations, making Americans the second-largest group of foreign tourists after the UK.
In 2023, American travelers logged roughly 4.6 million overnight stays, a 33 percent increase from the previous year.
While Portugal is widely regarded as one of Europe’s safest countries, recent incidents have raised concerns about public safety.
According to the 2024 Annual Internal Security Report (RASI), general crime in Portugal decreased by 4.6 percent in 2024.
However, certain areas have experienced upticks in violent crimes such as robberies.
