At least seven people were injured after a knife attack at a vocational school in the Polish city of Ostrołęka on Wednesday, October 7, police said. A 19-year-old student from the school was detained shortly after the attack.
The incident took place at Vocational School Complex No. 4 in Ostrołęka, a city in northeastern Poland, north of Warsaw. According to Polish authorities and reports from local broadcaster RMF FM, the attack occurred around 11 a.m. local time.
Police said the 19-year-old suspect was detained near the town’s beach after fleeing the school. He was also injured and was taken to hospital for medical treatment, according to reports. Authorities have not publicly identified him.
Seven people were initially reported injured, although police stressed that the number was preliminary and could change as the investigation continued. Two of those injured were reported to be in serious condition. Most of the victims were students, while at least one teacher was also among those wounded.
Emergency services were sent to the school following the attack. The area was secured and the school was evacuated as authorities responded to the incident.
Ostrołęka Mayor Paweł Niewiadomski said the situation had been brought under control. Investigators are now working to establish exactly what happened inside the school and determine the motive behind the attack.
As of Wednesday afternoon, authorities had not announced a motive for the violence. Police and prosecutors are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, including the suspect’s actions before and during the incident.
The attack has renewed attention on school safety in Poland. Serious attacks at schools remain relatively uncommon in the country, although authorities have dealt with other incidents of violence in educational and religious institutions in recent weeks.
The investigation remains ongoing, and officials may provide further details about the victims, the suspect and the circumstances of the attack as more information becomes available.
