One dead, four injured in Polish abbey knife attack, local media report - Reuters

A knife attack took place on Thursday, 24 September, on the grounds of a Benedictine abbey in the town of Jarosław in south‑east Poland. Police said a man armed with a kitchen knife entered the monastery complex and began stabbing people, first injuring a priest in a nearby café before moving inside the abbey.

The assault left one priest dead and four other people wounded. According to local reports, the injured include three members of the clergy and two laypersons. One of the clergy members, identified by a sister at the abbey as Father Stanislaw, died at the scene, while another priest, Father Marek, was reported to be in serious condition. Some accounts mention only four victims – four men and one woman – without specifying a second injured priest, indicating a slight discrepancy in the reporting of the victims’ identities.

A 31‑year‑old Ukrainian man was detained at the scene by police. Prosecutors said the attacker used a knife taken from the abbey’s kitchen. The motive for the attack has not been disclosed, and investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki expressed that the attack “has shaken us all and demands a firm response from the state.” Prime Minister Donald Tusk pledged that the perpetrator “will be punished with the full severity of Polish law,” while Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński announced that psychological support would be provided to those affected. Jarosław’s mayor, Marcin Nazarewicz, declared a period of mourning for the town until the end of the week.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the “evil” of the attack, stating that the perpetrator must bear full responsibility under the law and that Ukraine expects a swift and thorough investigation. The Ukrainian embassy in Poland also issued a statement condemning the violence.

Police continue to investigate the motives behind the stabbing, and medical authorities are treating the injured. Support services have been mobilised for victims and their families as the investigation proceeds.