A man has been arrested on suspicion of threatening and planning an attack against Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as confirmed by Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński on Sunday. The minister did not disclose the suspect’s identity or specific details about the planned attack.
Poland is currently on heightened alert due to a series of school stabbings that occurred earlier this week, along with growing concerns over a potential Russian hybrid attack aimed at undermining Western support for Ukraine amidst its ongoing conflict with Russia.
Prime Minister Tusk acknowledged the swift actions of law enforcement, stating, “The man who threatened an attack was detained. Thanks to the police for their fast and decisive action.”
Earlier on Sunday, Poland’s police reported receiving information about a possible plot against both Prime Minister Tusk and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. Jacek Dobrzyński, spokesperson for the minister overseeing Poland’s intelligence services, emphasised the gravity of the situation, asserting that authorities assess there is a “high probability” the threats could materialise. His remarks followed an emergency meeting involving security services, police, and representatives from the Interior Ministry.
Dobrzyński said the threat information initially reached the state protection service, which then relayed it to the police. While he refrained from providing additional details about the reported plot, he noted a rising trend of various threats that the intelligence services have been monitoring each month.
Government spokesperson Adam Szłapka told Polish media that Prime Minister Tusk learned of the threat early Sunday morning, adding that although threats are not uncommon, this instance was deemed “exceptionally concerning.”
This week, three attacks occurred at schools in Mazovia province, central Poland, in a span of just four days, resulting in one fatality and numerous injuries, including those of children.
In September, Prime Minister Tusk raised alarms about the increasing likelihood of hybrid attacks by Russia aimed at NATO’s eastern flank, suggesting that Russia may anticipate targeting European nations that support Ukraine, including Poland, to weaken Western solidarity with Kyiv in its defence against the Russian invasion. Moscow has refuted any such allegations.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
