Portuguese murder suspect extradited to UK over Manchester gang clash

A 23-year-old Portuguese man suspected of involvement in a deadly gang clash in Manchester six years ago has been extradited to the United Kingdom.

Portugal’s Judicial Police (PJ) handed the man over to British judicial authorities on Tuesday after the Lisbon Court of Appeal ordered his extradition on October 7.

He had been arrested in Lisbon on March 12 on suspicion of murder and bodily harm offences relating to a violent confrontation between rival groups in Manchester in November 2020.

According to the PJ, the suspect allegedly belonged to an organised group that arranged the clash through social media before confronting a rival group armed with knives, sabres, baseball bats and other weapons.

One member of the rival group was killed.

British police records indicate that the case concerns the killing of 16-year-old Alexander John Soyoye, known as John, who died during a confrontation in Moston, Manchester, on November 5, 2020.

Greater Manchester Police says Soyoye was attacked after becoming separated from others during the confrontation and died at the scene.

The PJ says the 23-year-old returned to Portugal shortly after the events in Manchester.

Last of five suspects detained

The man was the last of a group of five suspects to be detained in connection with this part of the investigation.

According to the PJ, two were arrested in Portugal in January, another was detained in the Netherlands and a fourth was arrested on March 2 before the 23-year-old was located in Lisbon on March 12.

Greater Manchester Police reported in March that three Portuguese nationals had already been extradited to Britain, while another suspect was being held in Portugal and a fifth had been detained in the Netherlands.

By August, British police said four further members of the organised group had been jailed following their extradition, while one remaining suspect was still expected to be sent to the UK.

The latest extradition was made possible by a change in the arrangements governing the surrender of Portuguese nationals to the United Kingdom.

The PJ says that, following a legislative change in late 2025, Portugal agreed to extradite its own citizens to Britain for criminal proceedings, provided British authorities give assurances that, in the event of a custodial sentence, the individual can serve that sentence in Portugal.