​Lisbon queer club Planeta Manas “violently” raided by riot police

Lisbon queer club Palenta Manas has said that it was subject to a raid by riot police last weekend, the fourth in the space of just five months.

On Saturday, February 8, the club claims that a group of plainclothes police forcibly entered the building, which sits just next to Lisbon’s international airport in Portela.

“In five months, this was the fourth time the police have used force illegally and violently to enter the private space of our cultural association,” the club claimed in an Instagram post.

A queer party supported by public funding featuring the likes of Gayance and DJ Caring was going ahead at the club when police allegedly entered at around 2:AM.

“Police agents in plain clothes forced their way into Planeta Manas without identifying themselves or showing a warrant. Given the violence with which they arrived and because we saw a gun, we thought it was a robbery,” they said.

Planeta Manas claimed that members of the association of which the club is a part of were “physically assaulted with truncheons” after armed and hooded police arrived.

“Once again, they illegally searched people without informing us of the reasons for the search,” they claimed. “They forbade filming to document the situation, threatening to seize mobile phones. This behaviour by the Police is totally unjustifiable.”

The club says that it worked with police to provide all documentation and information requested, though they claim that they were not informed of the reason for the raid. “[They] disrespected the principle of freedom of association enshrined in the constitution," they said.

A fundraiser has been launched by Planeta Manas to ensure the club’s survival and help with overhead costs. Donate here, and read their statement below.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter