Polish police detain Ukrainian teenager over alleged attack plot in Warsaw
A 15-year-old was held after investigators found he had searched online for how to attack a shopping centre and kill a police officer, Polish police said.
Warsaw police detained a 15-year-old Ukrainian national after monitoring flagged what they called worrying online activity, according to RMF24, cited by Hromadske. Officers said the teenager had searched the internet for instructions on carrying out an attack at a shopping centre and on killing a police officer.
During the monitoring, Polish officers received information pointing to the teenager's online activity and moved to identify and locate him, police said. Specialists from the police department for social prevention of minors and from the counter-terrorism and homicide unit were brought into the case, Polish police said.
Officers traced the teenager and carried out a search, seizing a laptop and a phone, which have been passed to experts for further examination, police said. Based on the material gathered, investigators classified his actions as preparation for a killing, according to SB.by.
The teenager was brought before a court, which ordered him placed in an educational centre for three months, police said. A family court will issue a final ruling in the case once the review is complete.
Belarusian outlet SB.by also reported the detention, saying officers established the teenager's identity and gathered evidence before classifying his actions as preparation for a killing. Both outlets described the case as the result of routine online monitoring rather than a tip-off about a specific, imminent plot.
What we know
- Warsaw police detained a 15-year-old Ukrainian national over online searches for how to attack a shopping centre and kill a police officer.
- Police seized a laptop and phone belonging to the teenager for examination.
- A court has placed him in an educational centre for three months pending a family court ruling.
Why it matters for Europe
The case is the latest in a series of security scares across Poland and the Baltic states this year involving suspected plots, sabotage and espionage linked to Russia's war on Ukraine. Polish authorities have stepped up monitoring of online threats to public spaces and security personnel as the war continues next door.
Sources
Reported by 4 reports from 4 independent outlets in 4 countries.
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Questions and answers
- Who was detained in Warsaw?
- A 15-year-old Ukrainian national, after police said he searched online for how to attack a shopping centre and kill a police officer.
- What has happened to him so far?
- A court has ordered him placed in an educational centre for three months while a family court decides the case.
- What evidence did police collect?
- Officers seized his laptop and phone, which are being examined by specialists, police said.
This article was written with AI assistance from 3 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.