According to an Associated Press report dated October 7th, on that day, a 19-year-old vocational school student from northern Poland attacked a classmate, a teacher, and a passerby with a sharp object, causing 9 people to be injured. The student then fled and was arrested nearby.
Polish police said the attack occurred around 11 a.m. local time, at the Ostrovynska Fourth Vocational Comprehensive School. The city is located about 120 kilometers northeast of Warsaw. Authorities have not provided information on the suspect's motives, nor have they revealed details about the weapons used.
Regional Governor Mariusz Frankowski said that the injured include five students, two teachers, and two passersby. All of the injured people are not in life-threatening condition, but one of them is seriously injured. Some of the injured were taken to the hospital by helicopter.
According to Polish privacy laws, authorities disclose only that the suspect is Jakub Z.
The police said that after fleeing the scene, he was arrested on the riverbank less than 1 kilometer from the school. The prosecution stated that he was injured during the arrest, and the injuries were caused by “self-harm”. The suspect was then taken to the hospital.
The police in Ostrovanica City and Masovske Province posted photos on social media, showing a police officer placing his hand on the back of a person who was lying on the ground with hands tied behind their backs. The person’s face and hands were covered with bandages.
Polish media released blurred photos allegedly taken by students, showing bloodstains on the school floor.
Two hours after the attack, Pavel Niewiadomski, the mayor of Ostrówka, wrote on social media: “The situation is under control.” However, he stated that schools will remain closed while authorities investigate the attack.
He said that children and other affected individuals will receive psychological support; he has ordered all schools in the area to prohibit any unidentified individuals from entering campus.
The local fire department spokesman told Polsat television that a suspicious backpack was found inside the school, and authorities are investigating its contents.
The police said that the suspect had previously come under their attention due to possessing a small amount of drugs.
It is understood that school attacks are not common in Poland. However, last month, a stabbing incident occurred at a Catholic convent in southeastern Poland, resulting in one death and four injuries.
