LISBON — On Wednesday, October 2, unidentified attackers fatally shot two men and one woman in a low-income area of Lisbon,, Portugal, before fleeing on foot, according to police.

Though such killings are uncommon in Portugal, which is regarded as one of the safest countries globally, violent crime has been increasing in recent times.

The shooting occurred in Lisbon’s Penha de Franca district, a historic working-class neighborhood.

"I can confirm three people were shot and killed, and the suspects, three men, escaped," a police source told Reuters, adding that it is still too soon to determine the motive behind the killings.

Local media reports suggested that two of the victims died from head injuries, implying the possibility of an execution-style attack.

Despite being ranked the 7th most peaceful country worldwide by the Global Peace Index, violent crime in Portugal rose 5.6% last year, with 14,022 cases reported, over a third of them in the greater Lisbon area.

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