A 21-year-old woman has been arrested in Warsaw, Poland, after injuring three people in a knife attack at a local school. The incident occurred on Saturday, with the woman using a "dangerous object" to attack a 17-year-old girl at an educational institution in the capital. According to police, the 17-year-old was taken to hospital, but her condition was not life-threatening.
The latest incident comes just a day after thousands of police visited schools across Poland, following two stabbing attacks earlier in the week. On Wednesday, a 19-year-old student attacked and injured nine people at a vocational school in the central Polish province of Mazovian. A day later, a 37-year-old caretaker was killed after a 15-year-old entered a primary school in Leszczydół-Nowiny, north of Warsaw.
Authorities have reported that two other women, aged 17 and 24, were also injured in the latest attack, with the suspected attacker being a student at the school. Initial findings suggested that she did not know the three victims. A Warsaw police spokesperson said they could not confirm whether the latest incident was related to the two previous attacks.
Polish police have been stepping up security following the recent knife attacks, with 76 people detained after deploying to schools across the country. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said ahead of the operation that there was no room for compromise when it came to the safety of Polish children and peace in schools.
There have been suggestions that the incidents this past week could be related to an internet challenge, with local media citing a police spokesperson. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński also said a 17-year-old was detained in the town of Sierpc, north-west of Warsaw, after allegedly stating "on school grounds that he planned to do something... dangerous - that he intended to harm someone".
The recent incidents have raised concerns about school safety in Poland, with authorities taking measures to prevent further attacks. The incidents have also sparked a wider conversation about the impact of social media on young people and the need for greater support for mental health.
The investigation into the latest incident is ongoing, with police working to determine the motive behind the attack. The suspected attacker is currently in custody, and authorities are working to ensure that schools across Poland are safe for students and staff.
Key points
- A 21-year-old woman has been arrested after injuring three people in a knife attack at a school in Warsaw, Poland.
- The incident is the third knife attack to occur at a Polish school in a week, following two previous incidents that resulted in injuries and a fatality.
- Authorities have detained 76 people and are investigating a possible link to an internet challenge.
