Polish police mobilize over 20,000 officers in schools following a series of attacks

Polish police launched a major security operation in schools on Monday after three stabbing attacks were committed at educational institutions over a four-day period. More than 20,000 police officers were mobilized nationwide, while authorities inspected approximately 80,000 schools.

The latest incident occurred on Saturday at a college in Warsaw, where three people were injured. On Thursday, a 15-year-old former student killed a caretaker and injured two teachers at a primary school in Leszczydol-Nowiny. The previous day, a 19-year-old injured nine people at a school in Ostroleka before self-harming.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk convened a crisis meeting and promised measures to combat violence among young people. He warned against the glorification of violence online, Nazi propaganda and what he called the “cult of force.” Authorities rejected, however, the existence of a link between the attacks or of a coordinated online provocation.

Police also announced the detention of 135 people. In a separate case, a boy who had simulated an attack on his school in Roblox was found with weapons, ammunition and knives.