Knife attack at Polish school in Ostrołęka injures at least eight
A 19-year-old student attacked pupils and teachers with a sharp weapon at a vocational school in Ostrołęka, Poland, injuring eight people before being detained nearby.
Update ·
Prosecutors say the eight injured included two teachers and two bystanders, and a backpack the suspect left behind began emitting smoke.
All 2 updates ↓Also in:Polski
A 19-year-old student attacked pupils and teachers with a sharp weapon at a vocational school in Ostrołęka, in north-eastern Poland, on Wednesday morning. Eight people were injured, including four students, two teachers and two bystanders, Ostrołęka district prosecutor's office spokeswoman Elżbieta Łukasiewicz told the Polish Press Agency PAP.
One victim was the most seriously hurt, though prosecutors said that person's life was not in danger; police had earlier said two victims were seriously injured. The injured were taken to hospitals in Ostrołęka and Łomża, fire brigade spokesman Adrian Stupski said.
Police received the report shortly before midday local time. The attack happened during a lesson, and the attacker fled the building, injuring two of the adult victims outside the school as he escaped, Stupski said.
Officers detained the suspect, a student at the school whom prosecutors identified as Jakub Z., on a municipal beach on the Narew river, about 400 to 500 metres from the building, 25 minutes after the report came in, Łukasiewicz said. The suspect had injured himself before being detained and was given first aid at a hospital in Ostrów Mazowiecki; his life is not in danger, Łukasiewicz said.
A backpack the suspect left in a classroom began emitting smoke during the attack, prompting students to throw it out of a window, Rzeczpospolita reported. Firefighters checked it for pyrotechnic material, and police secured the backpack for further examination, Stupski said.
The school, Zespół Szkół Zawodowych nr 4, partially evacuated the building during the attack, while some students locked themselves inside classrooms to protect themselves from the attacker, Stupski said. Witnesses told local news site e-Ostrołęka they heard people shouting "help" and "call the police", Rzeczpospolita reported. Police said they were still establishing the exact circumstances of the attack, and the motive has not been established.
Mayor Paweł Niewiadomski said the situation was under control and the suspect detained. He ordered the school closed and told the city's other schools not to admit outsiders onto their grounds, appealing to students, parents and staff to stay calm and avoid spreading unverified information. Four psychologists were sent to the school to support students and staff, Łukasiewicz said.
What we know
- 1 outlet · Gazeta.pl Eight people were injured, including four students, two teachers and two bystanders, prosecutors said
- 1 outlet · Gazeta.pl The 19-year-old suspect, named by prosecutors as Jakub Z., was detained near the school 25 minutes after the attack was reported
- 1 outlet · Gazeta.pl The suspect injured himself and was treated in hospital; his life is not in danger, prosecutors said
- 1 outlet · Gazeta.pl A backpack left by the suspect began emitting smoke and was thrown out of a window by students
- 1 outlet · Gazeta.pl The school has been closed, and the city's other schools were told not to admit outsiders
Not yet confirmed
- Unconfirmed The motive for the attack has not been established, police said
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
The attack has prompted Ostrołęka's mayor to tighten security at every other school the city runs, barring outsiders from their grounds while Zespół Szkół Zawodowych nr 4 remains closed. Prosecutors have 48 hours to question the suspect before deciding on further steps, Łukasiewicz said.
Four psychologists were sent to support students and staff, reflecting the scale of the response to an attack that injured two teachers along with four pupils and two bystanders.
Updates
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Prosecutors say the eight injured included two teachers and two bystanders, and a backpack the suspect left behind began emitting smoke.
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The attacker injured himself before being detained and is not in life-threatening condition, prosecutors say.
First published.
Sources
Reported by 8 reports from 8 independent outlets in 6 countries.
- Gazeta.pl: Atak nożownika w szkole w Ostrołęce. Pięć osb rannych
- Onet Wiadomości: Atak nożownika w szkole w Ostrołęce. Są ranni wśród uczniów
- Rzeczpospolita: Atak nożownika w szkole w Ostrołęce. Są ranni
- Interia Fakty: Atak nożownika w szkole w Ostrołęce. Trwa akcja policji
- Omni: Sju skadade i knivattack på skola i Polen
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- How many people were hurt in the Ostrołęka school attack?
- Eight people were injured, including four students, two teachers and two bystanders, prosecutors said.
- Who carried out the attack?
- A 19-year-old student at the school, identified by prosecutors as Jakub Z., was detained near the scene shortly after the attack.
- Was the attacker's motive known?
- No. Police said they were still establishing the exact circumstances, and the motive has not been established.
This article was written with AI assistance from 10 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.