A 21‑year‑old woman was taken into custody after she used a "dangerous object" to wound three people at an educational institution in Warsaw, police said. The incident is the third knife‑related attack at Polish schools recorded in a single week, raising fresh concerns about safety on school grounds.
Background
Poland has seen a rapid succession of violent incidents at schools this week. On 7 October, a 19‑year‑old student attacked a vocational school in the Mazovian province, injuring nine people. The following day, a 15‑year‑old entered a primary school in Leszczydół‑Nowiny and killed a 37‑year‑old caretaker. These events prompted a massive police operation, with authorities deploying officers to schools across the country and detaining 76 individuals.
Details of the Latest Attack
The latest assault occurred at a Warsaw school where the woman, identified as a 21‑year‑old student, targeted a 17‑year‑old girl and two other women aged 17 and 24 who were submitting enrolment documents. All three victims were taken to hospital; the 17‑year‑old’s condition was reported as non‑life‑threatening. Police indicated that the attacker did not know the victims and that she was a student at the school.
Security Response
In response to the wave of attacks, Polish police have intensified security measures in schools nationwide. Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized that "there is no room for compromise" when it comes to the safety of children. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński also noted the detention of a 17‑year‑old in Sierpc who had expressed intent to commit a dangerous act on school grounds.
Possible Links
Local media, citing police sources, reported that the incidents might be connected to an internet challenge, though officials have not confirmed any direct link between the latest attack and the earlier ones.
Chronology of Recent Attacks
- 7 Oct: 19‑year‑old student injures nine at a vocational school in Mazovia.
- 8 Oct: 15‑year‑old kills a 37‑year‑old caretaker at a primary school in Leszczydół‑Nowiny.
- Latest incident: 21‑year‑old woman wounds three at a Warsaw school.
Authorities continue to investigate whether the attacks are part of a coordinated pattern or isolated events, and they have urged schools to remain vigilant while the police maintain a heightened presence.