Portuguese nationals Mariana Jadaugy, 24, and Farana Sadrudin, 49, were at the Ismaili Centre when an Afghan refugee named locally as Abdul Bashir entered with a large knife and fatally attacked them after seriously injuring his English teacher.
The incident happened on Tuesday just before 11am at Muslim religious centre in Lisbon, DailyMail reported.
The brother of a witness of the attack, said he had been told the knifeman turned on the victims after they tried to intervene as he stabbed his teacher.
The male teacher was seriously injured in the attack.
The attacker who is a father-of-three, lost his wife around a year ago. He was taken to hospital after being shot in the leg by police responding to emergency calls.
Officers said they fired at him when he ignored orders to drop his weapon and started walking towards them.
The knifeman was transported to the São José Hospital, where he is in a serious condition and remains under arrest.
Friends and well-wishers paid tribute today to Mariana and Farana, who both worked at the religious centre.
Farana’s friend Gabriela Navalho described her loss as ‘irreparable’, adding: ‘Stay saved in me, your light, smile, our crazy conversations full of laughter.
Rest in peace Farana Sadrudin. Strength to all your family and friends.
‘Teresa Pinto added in an online tribute to Mariana: ‘How cruel this world can be. Portugal opens its arms to those in need and this is the payback.
‘Mariana Jadaugy, you will always be in my heart as that happy, friendly and generous woman.’
The knifeman is now under police guard in Lisbon’s Sao Jose Hospital.
