One of the victims, a Lisbon Town Hall union member, was admitted to hospital following the attack, after suffering a number of broken bones and internal bleeding.
Eye-witness reports state that a group of around seven or eight skinheads, well-built and wearing t-shirts saying “Refugees not welcome” walked past the gathering when somebody shouted “fascists”.
They took offence to this and attacked three of the Communist Party members before fleeing the scene, possibly after sighting police officers.
During the escape, an elderly man, wearing Communist Party campaign gear, was also physically attacked.
Police arrived at the scene shortly afterwards, but were unable to identify any of the attackers.
According to newspaper Jornal de Notícias, one of the attackers returned for his wallet which he lost during the scuffle, but not before bystanders checked its contents which included an identification card of a prison guard.
PSP police have so far failed to confirm this information.