BBC is reporting that a 50 year old tourist from Gateshead has been killed in a "gang attack" in Albufeira. Can't see anything in the Portugal News - has anybody heard anything about this?

It was in the portugal news that we picked up at the airport when we left Sunday. There have been 3 attacks - 2/3 weeks ago a 23 yr old man was killed, last week a man was severely beaten ad this week the guy was beaten so badly he was decalred "brain dead" on friday - I understand he has now also died. All attacks were near the "strip" in Albufeira

The link to the story in Portugal News http://www.theportugalnews.com

Thanks all. I know Albufeira's not Carvoeiro but just not used to seeing stuff like this about the Algarve. Grim.

Rotterdam airport waiting to board to faro and reading the last guy attacked has lost his fight for life. Hope the police catch these dogs. Such a shame this has to happen and hope it doesn't deter people from going to this lovely country, Gaynor

I agree. we visited Albufeira last time we were in portugal and we didnt like it, that was only for a day. We had been thinking of staying there instead of carvoeiro, sooooo glad we didnt!!!

Breakfast TV this morning reported that the UK government were warning tourists to be careful on holiday in Portugal. They had a reporter from the Portuguse News, reporting from Lagoa, on the incidents and saying the level of violence lately is unprecedented.
Whilst these crimes are totally unacceptable - they should be put in perspective - they can happen anywhere, and are much less likely in Portugal than many countries including UK. I think the Maddy incident and its continued coverage makes the press focus on Portugal more.
They also had a report that Barnsley was going to fine people up to £80 for publicly swearing. Sorry, am I missing something - was this a delayed announcement from April 1st? In Barnsley violent crime is up (Sept - Nov 2010 average 197 a month, same period 2009 stats show 166 per month). Surely they have something more important to focus on.

removed

When has the media ever put the truth in front of a good story.
These incidents have happened and given the type and circumstances are unfortunately likely to happen again unless holidaymakers modify their behaviour.
Don,t get P******* out of your mind and wander home in the early hours through the less attractive parts of any town.

Anyone with even a scant knowledge of Albufeira will know that these events occurred in a very small area of the town and where 90% plus of the vistors go is perfectly safe,much , much safer than your average UK market town at the weekends.
It is the behaviour of our fellow Brits that puts us off Albufeira in high season .

AVO wrote:I agree with Sam. And would this topic not be better off on the owners section? Tragic as the incident was - it is not a common occurrence and do we really want to give people yet another excuse not to visit such a wonderful place?

What's it got to do with the owners? - irrespective of someone being drunk (no evidence to suggest the latest victim or others were hammered) they should be able to walk back to their hotel or accomodation without being mugged, assaulted or killed. These incidents are very rare, but if they are on the increase then people have a right to know - and if this is a "gang" then the police need to get them soon - there were enough witnesses last time!

We must not hide behind the "Algarve being a wonderful place" if violence is increasing and the authorities are unable to do (or unwilling) anything about it - otherwise we'll end up the the Algarve being a wonderful, but empty place! Crime is on the increase all over the world - particularly in times of recession - the Algarve is not immune.

HampshireRich wrote:

AVO wrote:I agree with Sam. And would this topic not be better off on the owners section? Tragic as the incident was - it is not a common occurrence and do we really want to give people yet another excuse not to visit such a wonderful place?

What's it got to do with the owners? - irrespective of someone being drunk (no evidence to suggest the latest victim or others were hammered) they should be able to walk back to their hotel or accomodation without being mugged, assaulted or killed. These incidents are very rare, but if they are on the increase then people have a right to know - and if this is a "gang" then the police need to get them soon - there were enough witnesses last time!

We must not hide behind the "Algarve being a wonderful place" if violence is increasing and the authorities are unable to do (or unwilling) anything about it - otherwise we'll end up the the Algarve being a wonderful, but empty place! Crime is on the increase all over the world - particularly in times of recession - the Algarve is not immune.

How true Rich.

this story got a lot of coverage on irish radio today, namely on the joe duffy show. this is a chat show where listners phone in with their problems/complaints etc. very popular program. a caller who was mugged in albufeira gave his story and stated quite bluntly the the gru didn't want to know or care. he complained to the mayor of albufeira but apparantly the mayor cannot take it up with lisbon, he also wrote to the portuguese ambassador to ireland - no reply. joe was pretty insistant that the ambassador should be made aware of peoples feelings on this matter and just before signing off he said they would try and get the ambassador on air tomorrow. don't thinkit will happen but you never know. another lady who was mugged and complained to the police was told not to drink so much in future. she stuck to her guns and the gru then produced her handbag which had been stolen in the mugging, but again told her not to drink so much in future!

dont know of anyone is interested, you can probably listen to it tomorrow its on rte.ie on real player. the show starts at 13:45 until 15:00. probably boring to anyone not irish as he covers a lot of ground some days.

There are good points in all the above, crime rises when recessions come round its a fact. The lack of police is an issue, so is the drink and probably more of an issue the time and route people take home. A friend who owns a bar in Albufeira strip said last night the special police ( whatever they are) were out in massive numbers..peace of mind I guess.

Whilst these events are rare they always make the headlines and everyone panics...last year a couple were mugged in the early hours after a night in the Jailhouse but it didnt make the headlines. They just warned people to take care, stick to the more popular routes and go in groups. People still go out without looking over their shoulder.

Carvoeiro is no different to everywhere else it will happen but vigilance pays. As soon as one of these idiots gets a hiding then watch the headlines change to drunken Brits give local a kicking and then watch who the police pull,,,it wont be the local

This is all a bit sombre for a holiday resort

well joe did get an official from the portuguese embassy in dublin on his radio show today. official said that the authorities were taking it very seriously and that there was extra police now in duty in the algarve (from lisbon according to him). also said that the equivalent of the cid were now on the case and while it might be slow building up evidence etc he was assuring listners that the matter was receiving urgent attention. also on the show as the father of that young scottish lad murdered recently. really sad and you have to feel for him.
it was stated yesterday that albufeira accounts for 25% of all revenue generated in the algarve and the algarve generates something similar in relation to portugal as a whole.