The spokesperson for the National Republican Guard (GNR), Carlos Canatário, told Lusa that of the 12 injured, a young woman suffered serious injuries, and the others, including two GNR officers, sustained minor injuries.

"The 35-year-old man was arrested and had a blood alcohol level of 1.29 grams per litre. Toxicological tests were also carried out."

The police state that the hit-and-run occurred around 3:00am on 25 August on Rua Francisco Sá Carneiro, when a vehicle that was parked on a public road started moving.

Officers stopped the man, but he disobeyed, reversed, and continued driving.

GNR spokesperson mentioned that the man was stopped again by the military, but continued to drive towards people, running them over and continuing on his way.

"At this point, the GNR officers fired some shots into the air in an attempt to stop the driver," he said.

Then, Carlos Canatário stated that the car crashed into another vehicle, and the man tried to flee on foot, but was eventually apprehended by the military personnel from the Public Order Intervention Group.

The GNR arrested the man for the crimes of aggravated assault, driving under the influence of alcohol, and dangerous driving, and the facts were reported to the Judicial Court for the application of the respective coercive measures.