"First, I wanted to condemn any racist attack. It cannot happen in our country and, therefore, [I make] a full condemnation of what happened in Porto", said Carlos Moedas (PSD) to journalists in Lisbon, on the sidelines of the presentation of a new car park in the city.

The mayor said he "agreed with part of what Rui Moreira said", who considered the attack "unacceptable and a hate crime", in addition to having defended the extinction of AIMA -- Agency for the Integration of Migrants and Asylum.

"In fact, there is no response from the central State regarding the problem we are having in the cities and, therefore, I understand that he said that it makes no sense for AIMA to exist", he considered.

Carlos Moedas stressed the need for "a response", regardless of whether it is called "AIMA or SEF (Foreigners and Borders Service) or any other".

"The important thing is to have this response and, at this moment, I do not have this response in Anjos", stressed Carlos Moedas, where the number of people who are spending the night in tents in the Anjos garden, in Arroios, and surroundings is growing, most of them undocumented immigrants.

Moedas said he felt ashamed, not so much as mayor, but above all, for living "in a country that no longer has an immigration policy", stressing the need to know who the people the "country needs and what type of workforce" are, similar to what happens in other countries.

"I have always said that we need immigration policies that are dignified for people", he reiterated, considering that immigrants cannot "continue to enter and wait years for their papers".

The official explained that, currently, the Lisbon City Council "cannot help" most of those who are in Anjos because they lack documents.

"I can help those who are Portuguese, who have papers, who have situations already defined and who we can help as a Council (...), but the others I cannot help, legally I cannot help", he lamented.

Recognizing the need to "act quickly", Carlos Moedas considered that Lisbon has "conditions to accommodate people who are on the streets", but for this to happen, "AIMA must act and help these people to have papers", recalling that, at this moment, when he goes to Anjos he only helps those who are documented Portuguese.

The mayor added that the council has done an "incredible job" in the area "identifying, seeing what people need and trying to take them to other places", stressing, however, that the municipality "cannot even help because people do not even have papers".

"Therefore, I understand Rui Moreira's despair, because it is also my despair. The Government has to act, AIMA has to act, whether it is AIMA or not, I was one of those who said that it made no sense, at the time, to extinguish the SEF, but now it is done, I will not defend whether it goes back or not, the Government has to act", he stressed.

The mayor of Lisbon stressed that he has been going to Anjos and that what he sees are "shocking images, but they are shocking because the Government, the State does not act".

Carlos Moedas recalled having already spoken with the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, about the "urgency of resolving" these issues, adding that he had shown the government's willingness to find spaces to house people, such as an old barracks.

Reiterating the revolt he feels with the existing inaction, the mayor said he understands that "some time must be given to the Government to act", but renewed the "total urgency" in dealing with this issue for the cities, not only for Porto, but also for Lisbon.

In the early hours of Friday, there were three attacks and assaults on immigrants in the Campo 24 de Agosto area, on Rua do Bonfim and on Rua Fernandes Tomás, in Porto.

According to the PSP, the attacks were carried out by several groups, with five immigrants being taken to hospital due to their injuries.

Following the attacks, six men were identified and one was arrested for illegal possession of a weapon.

Due to the suspicion of a hate crime, the case is now being investigated by the Judicial Police.

Read Also: Porto municipal executive repudiates "racist" attack on immigrants (Portuguese version)