Prosecutors charge Ukrainian suspect over fatal Jarosław abbey attack
A Ukrainian man has been charged with murder after an attack at an abbey in Jarosław, Poland, that killed a priest and badly hurt four other people.
Prosecutors in Przemyśl have charged a Ukrainian man, identified only as Ihor M., with murder, attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm over an attack at an abbey in Jarosław, Poland, on 24 September, broadcaster RMF24 reported. One priest, Father Stanisław Zbojnowicz, died of his wounds, and four other people suffered life-threatening injuries.
The other injured were two priests, Father Marek Pieńkowski and Father Adrian Mantykiewicz, and two lay people, named only as Krzysztof G. and Ewa S., RMF24 reported. Prosecutors questioned the suspect on Wednesday; he admitted to the acts but exercised his right to remain silent, the broadcaster said. He had not been questioned earlier because of his health.
The suspect had travelled to Poland from Germany and was trying to return to Ukraine, RMF24 reported. He could not cross the border at Korczowa because his car had no third-party insurance, so he left the vehicle, and people who happened to be passing gave him a lift to Jarosław, the broadcaster said.
Ihor M. faces a possible life sentence unless he is found to have been legally insane at the time of the attack, a determination that will be made separately later in the investigation, prosecutor's office spokeswoman Małgorzata Taciuch-Kurasiewicz said. He has a court-appointed lawyer and is being held in a high-security forensic psychiatric ward, RMF24 reported.
Investigators are awaiting a third psychiatric opinion on the suspect's mental state. An initial assessment found acute psychotic disorder, a delusional interpretation of events and a lack of logical contact, while a second assessment found only a slight improvement, with reduced hostility and what examiners called a normalisation of his psychomotor state, RMF24 reported.
What we know
- A Ukrainian man, identified only as Ihor M., has been charged with murder, attempted murder and grievous bodily harm over the 24 September attack at an abbey in Jarosław, prosecutors said.
- One priest, Father Stanisław Zbojnowicz, died of his wounds; four others were left with life-threatening injuries.
- The suspect admitted to the acts when questioned but invoked his right to remain silent, RMF24 reported.
- He faces a possible life sentence unless found to have been legally insane at the time of the attack, a separate determination still to be made.
- Investigators are awaiting a third psychiatric opinion after two earlier assessments found a psychotic disorder with some later improvement.
Why it matters for Europe
The attack, which killed a Catholic priest and badly hurt two other priests and two lay people, drew wide attention in Poland partly because the suspect is a Ukrainian national, at a time when Poland hosts large numbers of Ukrainian refugees and migrant workers. Prosecutors have been careful to separate questions about his current mental state from the question of criminal responsibility at the time of the attack, which will be decided later in the case.
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Questions and answers
- What happened in Jarosław?
- A Ukrainian man attacked five people at an abbey on 24 September, killing a priest and seriously injuring four others, prosecutors said.
- What charges does the suspect face?
- He has been charged with murder, attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm, and could face life imprisonment unless found to have been insane at the time.
- Has he admitted the attack?
- He admitted to the acts when questioned but invoked his right to remain silent on further details, broadcaster RMF24 reported.
This article was written with AI assistance from 3 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.