Poland detains 76 people and inspects 50,000 schools after series of attacks

A large-scale operation to check security at educational institutions is ongoing in Poland, during which 76 people were detained. Law enforcement officers inspected nearly 50,000 schools and other educational establishments. These measures were a response to a wave of threats and two serious attacks carried out at the beginning of the week.

Statistics on inspections and detentions

According to Polish law enforcement agencies, more than 300 reports of potential danger were received. Signs of criminal offences were recorded in more than 200 cases. Over 24,000 police officers and municipal security workers were involved in the operation. On 9 October, 59 schools temporarily suspended operations, mostly in the Masovian Voivodeship.

Minors make up a significant proportion of those detained. During searches, knives, machetes, firecrackers, and mock weapons were seized from them. Some suspects explained their actions as jokes or a desire to gain more attention, views, and likes on social media.

Details of the attacks

Two incidents prompted the strengthening of security measures:

• On 7 October, a 19-year-old man attacked people with a knife inside and on the grounds of Vocational School No. 4 in Ostrołęka. Nine people were injured, including seven students and teachers. A homemade high-power explosive device was found on the attacker during his detention.
• On 8 October, a 15-year-old former student carried out a knife attack at a primary school near Wyszków. A 37-year-old employee of the institution died from her injuries, and two other teachers were hospitalised.

In addition, law enforcement prevented a potential attack in Sierpc. A 17-year-old teenager who openly declared his intention to carry out a massacre was detained there. The court chose preventive measures in the form of two months of detention.

Government reaction

Rumours about the existence of a mass challenge called "Bloody Friday" spread online. However, Polish officials did not confirm the version of a coordinated campaign.

Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński and police representatives emphasised that there is no direct evidence linking the most serious crimes. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digitisation Krzysztof Gawkowski also stated that no traces of a coordinated operation were found. Meanwhile, security services continue to separately investigate cases of deliberate spreading of panic in society.