In a press release, the GNR explain that the pursuit of the group, which is thought to have consisted of five men, started on Wednesday afternoon, after a first carjacking attempt in Barrancos.

The group was surprised by GNR officers as they were using a firearm to attack a woman driver on the Estrada Nacional 258, between Moura and Barrancos.

When the suspects realised that the police were approaching, they shot at them and hit the GNR vehicle in the part of the roof near the window, and managed to escape on foot.

The police started an operation to try and intercept them and at the beginning of this morning the GNR was informed about another carjacking situation.

A GNR source contacted by the Lusa agency said that this 'carjacking' had been carried out in the area of Santo Aleixo da Restauração (Moura).

As part of the police operation, a patrol crossed paths with the stolen vehicle at about 08.30, in which three individuals were travelling who once again threatened the officers with a firearm.

When the men disobeyed an order to stop, the officers shot at the vehicle in order to immobilise it and one of the shots hit the driver who was pointing a weapon in the direction of the GNR vehicle, the GNR said.

The GNR concluded by saying that the action led to the death of the suspect, and the other two men travelling in the vehicle were arrested without putting up any resistance, the GNR added without disclosing the ages of the assailants.

Inside the stolen vehicle, the source contacted by Lusa stressed, two weapons were found, a hunting gun and a war calibre pistol, which were seized.

The other two men, who are alleged to belong to the group, according to the police authorities, are still at large, and an investigation by the GNR and the Criminal Police is underway to try and intercept them.

_{'gnr' 'crime' 'alentejo' 'pj'}