An American tourist has been stabbed to death in the Portuguese resort town of Cascais following a late-night altercation over a hat. The incident occurred at around 3.20am on Wednesday when a 34-year-old man was walking back to his hotel and was approached by three men who tried to touch his hat unprovoked, according to Portugal’s Public Security Police.
When the victim told them to stop, he was punched in the face three times. He then called his 35-year-old friend, who was at a nearby nightclub, for help. Upon arrival, a verbal altercation escalated into violence, with one suspect using a sharp weapon to strike both men several times in the face, arms and back. The suspects fled in a vehicle parked nearby.
Police arrived at Rua Afonso Sanches to find both men covered in blood. The 35-year-old was lying on the ground, unresponsive, having been stabbed in the back, and was declared dead at the scene. The other victim sustained minor injuries to his face and right elbow and was taken to Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon.
The US State Department confirmed it was aware of the attack on two US tourists in Cascais, but their names have not yet been released. Three suspects have been arrested, with one facing a homicide charge and the other two accused of participating in the assault, according to CNN. The Criminal Police Body and Judicial Police are continuing their investigation.
