Timeline of the Carnation Revolution Combatants . Main MFA forces . Main " Movimento das Forças Armadas " ( MFA , " Movement of Armed Forces " ) forces : Loyalist Forces . Forces loyal to the government : Radio " Emissores Associados de Lisboa " broadcasts Paulo de Carvalho ' s popular Eurovision song ” E depois do Adeus ” , the first signal previously arranged by the military to synchronize their operations . Rádio Renascença broadcasts Zeca Afonso ' s song " Grândola , Vila Morena " : this is the MFA ' s main go - ahead signal to troops to launch military operations . April 25 , 1974 . Start of the military operations , according to the " Operations General Plan " ( " Plano Geral das Operações ) " . Main movements of the MFA forces : - Headquarters of the Lisbon Military Region occupied by a company of the BC 5 - " Rádio Clube Português " ( a radio station ) , defended by another company of the BC 5 and occupied by the 10th Commando Group - " Rádio Televisão Portuguesa " ( the television broadcaster ) , Lumiar studios occupied by the EPAM - " Emissora Nacional " ( another radio station ) , studios occupied by the CTCS - Positioning of an EPA artillery battery in Almada - The EPC goes to Terreiro do Paço ( downtown Lisbon , where the ministries are located ) - The EPI goes out to occupy the Lisbon Airport - Hunter companies occupy the antennas of " Rádio Clube Português " - The 5th Commando Group leaves Tomar to engage the RC 7 - A force of the 14th Infantry Regiment joins other forces in Figueira da Foz - A force of the Engineer School leaves Tancos - The CIOE goes out to occupy the DGS headquarters in Porto The BC 5 protects the house of General Spínola . The " Rádio Clube Português " broadcasts the first announcement of the MFA . The Lisbon Airport is occupied by the EPI . Broadcast of the second MFA announcement . The Tires air - field is occupied by the CIAAC . Broadcast of the third MFA announcement . The EPC occupies Terreiro do Paço . Broadcast of the fourth MFA announcement . The EPC lays siege to the ministries , the Lisbon City Hall , the approaches to the Civilian Government , the Banco de Portugal and the Marconi Radio . A platoon of the RC 7 , a unit loyal to the government , arrives at Terreiro do Paço , led by Second - Lieutenant David e Silva who , after talks , joins the MFA . The MFA Command Post ( RE 1 , located in Pontinha , outskirts of Lisbon ) learns that Marcelo Caetano , Prime - Minister , is in the GNR Carmo Headquarters ( Lisbon ) . The North Group goes to the Peniche Fort , a DGS prison . The 2nd Heavy Artillery Regiment takes up position near the Arrábida Bridge and the EPA near Cristo - Rei , in Almada . In Terreiro do Paço , officers of the Military Police and Captain Maltez of the PSP , join Captain Salgueiro Maia , after talks . Broadcast of another MFA announcement . Arrival at Ribeira das Naus ( near Terreiro do Paço ) of a new force of the RC 7 , led by Lieutenant - Colonel Ferrand de Almeida . A force of the RL 2 , enemy of the MFA , takes up position in Ribeira das Naus . Lieutenant - Colonel Ferrand de Almeida is arrested by Salgueiro Maia . A PSP force arrives at Terreiro do Paço but doesn ' t even try to engage Salgueiro Maia ' s troops . The frigate " Gago Coutinho " - part of NATO forces on exercises - takes up position in front of Terreiro do Paço , receiving orders to fire on Maia ' s troops , but doesn ' t obey . The Defense , Information and Tourism , Army , and Navy ministers , the Chief of General Staff , the Military Governor of Lisbon , the under - secretary of State of the Army and Admiral Henrique Tenreiro escape through a hole that they opened in the wall of the Ministry of the Army and go to the RL 2 , where they set up the Command Post of the forces loyal to the government . Forces loyal to the government , led by Brigadier Junqueira dos Reis , arrive at Terreiro do Paço . In Ribeira das Naus , Second - Lieutenant Fernando Sottomayor , of the RC 7 , doesn ' t follow Brigadier Junqueira dos Reis ' orders to fire on Salgueiro Maia and his troops , which prompts the Brigadier to arrest Sottomayor and to order the soldiers to fire . The soldiers also refuse , so Junqueira dos Reis fires two shots into the air , leaves , and goes to Arsenal Street . Surrender of Major Pato Anselmo , of the RC 7 , and broadcast of a new MFA announcement . In Arsenal Street , Brigadier Junqueira dos Reis gives order to fire on Lieutenant Alfredo Assunção , who was sent by Salgueiro Maia to negotiate with the forces of Junqueira dos Reis . Having again been disobeyed by his troops , he ends up punching Lieutenant Assunção three times . The MFA Command Post orders a military column , led by Major Jaime Neves , to occupy the Portuguese Legion in Penha de França ( Lisbon ) and a column , led by Salgueiro Maia , to the Carmo Headquarters , where Marcelo Caetano , Rui Patrício ( Minister of Foreign Affairs ) and Moreira Baptista ( Minister of Information and Tourism ) were . Salgueiro Maia leads the EPC forces that will besiege the GNR Headquarters , in Carmo , Lisbon . The MFA informs the country , through " Rádio Clube Português " , that controls the situation , from North to South . The officers that were arrested in Terreiro do Paço are sent to the MFA Command Post , in Pontinha . A force of the RI 1 tries to stop the EPC column from reaching the Carmo Headquarters , but Salgueiro Maia convinces them to join him . The EPC column , led by Salgueiro Maia , arrives at Chiado , through the Carmo Street , together with a crowd of civilian supporters . The forces of Salgueiro Maia besiege Carmo and receive orders from the MFA Command Post to open fire on the GNR Headquarters , to force Marcelo Caetano to surrender . The crowd distributes food , milk and cigarettes to the troops stationed in Carmo . GNR forces , loyal to the government , take up positions on the rear of Salgueiro Maia ' s troops . The Brigadier Junqueira dos Reis tries to besiege Salgueiro Maia ' s forces with the help of the GNR , Shock Police , and a company of RI 1 . Forces of RC 3 arrive at the Tagus River Bridge and head to Carmo . A new MFA announcement is broadcast . A gunship flies over Carmo , causing anxiety in the troops and civilians . MFA forces occupy the headquarters of the Portuguese Legion . The company of RI 1 that supported Junqueira dos Reis joins Salgueiro Maia . Talks begin , through mediators , between General Spínola and Marcelo Caetano , to obtain the surrender of the Prime - Minister . Broadcast of a new MFA announcement , informing that the main objectives were occupied . The RC 3 squadron , led by Captain Ferreira , besieges the troops of Brigadier Junqueira dos Reis . Following an order of the Command Post , Salgueiro Maia , using a megaphone , makes an ultimatum to obtain the surrender of the GNR , threatening to blow up the gates of the Carmo Headquarters . A new MFA announcement is broadcast . EPA forces receive orders to free the troops detained in the Trafaria Fort , following the events of March 16 ( an early attempt at a military coup d ' etat ) . Firing on the front of the Carmo Headquarters , ordered by Salgueiro Maia , which forces the talks for the surrender of Marcelo Caetano to restart . Elements of the DGS open fire on the crowd that surrounds its headquarters , in António Maria Cardoso Street , causing four deaths and wounding several . Resulting from the lack of progress of the negotiations for the surrender of Marcelo Caetano , Salgueiro Maia , puts an armoured vehicle in front of the Headquarters and begins the countdown to open fire . Suddenly he is interrupted by Pedro Feytor - Pinto and Nuno Távora , from the Information and Tourism State Department , who carries a message from General Spínola to Marcelo Caetano . Salgueiro Maia authorizes the entry of those two messengers into the Headquarters . Telephone contacts between Spínola , Marcelo Caetano and the MFA Command Post . Salgueiro Maia enters the Carmo Headquarters and demands the surrender of Marcelo Caetano , who replies by saying that he would only surrender to a General - Officer so that the Power doesn ' t " fall in the street " . The MFA Command Post mandates General Spínola to go into the Carmo Headquarters to receive the surrender of Marcelo Caetano . Broadcast of another MFA announcement . Spínola arrives at Carmo and , joined by Salgueiro Maia , enters the Headquarters to talk to Marcelo Caetano . Broadcast of a new MFA announcement . A Chaimite ( a Portuguese armoured personnel carrier ) vehicle enters the Carmo Headquarters to carry Marcelo Caetano to Pontinha . MFA declaration on RTP . Law 171 / 74 : abolishment of the DGS , Portuguese Legion and Portuguese Youth . Marcelo Caetano and the ministers Rui Patrício and Moreira Baptista board the Chaimite . Salgueiro Maia ends the siege to Carmo and drives Marcelo Caetano and the ministers to the MFA Command Post , in the Chaimite , completely surrounded by an enormous crowd shouting " Victory ! Victory ! Victory ! " . The crowd is all over Lisbon during the course of the Chaimite to the Command Post and , about 20 minutes later , a new MFA announcement is broadcast . Broadcast of the MFA press release through the " Rádio Clube Português " . The Chaimite arrives at the MFA Command Post with Marcelo Caetano and the two ministers , who are detained there until the next day . Elements of the DGS fires on the crowd surrounding its headquarters , killing 4 people and wounding 45 . Forces from the Navy join the MFA , forcing the DGS to surrender . Paratrooper forces arrive at Caxias prison ( Lisbon ) , where the DGS still fights on . A new announcement of the MFA is broadcast . Laws that dismiss the fascist leaders and ( through 171 / 74 ) abolish the DGS , Portuguese Legion and Portuguese Youth are approved .