Polish Authorities Detain 76, Scan Schools After Violent Attacks
The sweep comes after two separate school attacks left one dead and several injured, raising fears of coordinated violence.
Polish police detained 76 individuals and conducted checks at nearly 50,000 schools nationwide on Saturday in an effort to prevent further violence following two school attacks earlier in the week. The heightened security measures were implemented after two separate incidents left one person dead and several others injured.
On Wednesday, a 19-year-old attacked students, teachers, and passersby with a sharp object at a vocational school in central Poland, injuring nine people before being apprehended. The following day, a 15-year-old fatally attacked a school custodian and wounded two others at his former school in the same province.
Both assaults, carried out by Polish nationals, have caused shock in a country where such violence in schools is a relatively new concern. Rumors circulated online and in media that the attacks were coordinated and that further violence might occur on Friday, leading some schools to increase security.
Fifty-nine schools preemptively suspended classes on Friday, with many reporting enhanced security measures, including additional staff at entrances and voluntary backpack checks. "The safety of the youth is the most important thing," said Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński.
Among those detained were a 14-year-old boy found with a knife and firecrackers, and a 16-year-old carrying a butterfly knife. Others were detained for posting threats online or images of weapons. Authorities have stated they have found no evidence of an ongoing internet challenge promoting school attacks and have not officially confirmed a link between the two incidents.
The government has pledged to renew efforts to pass legislation aimed at blocking harmful online content. Prime Minister Donald Tusk highlighted the need for such tools, noting that current legal frameworks might not be sufficient to block content if a crime were streamed live.
In Thursday's attack, the 15-year-old perpetrator was eventually subdued by the school director, Krzysztof Ochmański, who later recounted that the boy asked for help and expressed a desire for a hug, suggesting a moment of realization about his actions.