News Beat
British boy, 13, stabbed to death in Portugal before house blown up in gas explosion
A 13-year-old British boy who was stabbed to death in Portugal, allegedly by his mother’s partner, has been named in reports as Alfie Hallett.
Authorities found the teenager and the suspected attacker suffering from stab wounds after a domestic violence report in a home in Casais, in the Tomar municipality.
Moments after arriving at the scene, a suspected gas explosion tore through the house, believed to have been deliberately caused by the attacker, injuring one officer in the process.
The teenager was found in cardiorespiratory arrest and pronounced dead at the scene. The suspected perpetrator, a 43-year-old man, also died.
The mother was found with signs of having been “restrained and assaulted” and was taken to the nearest hospital, police said. According to SIC Noticias, she had called 112 and sought help from neighbours shortly beforehand.
Sport Club Operario de Cem Soldos’s basketball team in Tomar has paid tribute to him, saying he will “always be in our hearts”.
In a post on Facebook on Tuesday, which has been translated, the club said: “Our athlete Alfie passed away today aged 13.
“Played his last game Saturday, played so well seemed like he knew it was his last game.
“We want to tell you how much we love you and that you will always be in our hearts.
The 43-year-old suspect allegedly attacked the boy with a bladed weapon before barricading himself inside the house, Diario de Noticias reported.
“Both the alleged assailant and the minor presented several injuries caused by a bladed weapon but, despite vital signs still being detectable, death was declared at the scene moments later,” the statement added.
The suspect had already served time for aggravated homicide, police said, and had been the subject of domestic abuse complaints dating back to 2022.
Luis Freire, who is the president of the local parish council, told Portuguese media that the domestic case had already been flagged by authorities due to previous episodes of domestic violence.
He stressed it was a “complicated situation”, which the GNR (National Republican Guard) was already aware of.
Reports from SIC Noticias said the couple had separated since 2023, but that the man was a regular visitor to their home in the central Portuguese town.
The woman suffered minor physical injuries in the attack and is now receiving psychological support from authorities.
Police said in their statement: “Inside the house, there was a strong smell of gas which, moments later, resulted in an explosion that injured one of the GNR officers.
“The alleged perpetrator had already served a prison sentence for aggravated homicide, and the family had been flagged following domestic violence cases registered in 2022 and 2023.”
The Foreign Office said in a statement: “We are in contact with the local authorities following an incident in Portugal, and stand ready to provide consular support.”
Forensic officers from the Judicial Police are now inspecting the site, Sílvia Lopes, the coordinator of the Leiria Judicial Police, told the Lusa news agency.
