Police in northern Poland are investigating a knife attack at a vocational school in Ostrołęka, where a 19-year-old student injured seven people on Wednesday morning. Two of the victims are reported to be in a critical condition.
The assault unfolded shortly after 11:00 a.m. local time at the vocational school complex No. 4, located in the Masovian city on the Narew river. According to initial police accounts, the suspect used a sharp-edged weapon to attack both students and teachers before fleeing the premises.
Emergency services rushed the seven injured individuals to nearby hospitals. Superintendent Tomasz Żerański, spokesperson for the Ostrołęka municipal police headquarters, confirmed that two of the wounded are in a serious state. The others are believed to have sustained less severe injuries.
Police apprehended the suspect approximately 25 minutes after the incident was reported. He was found on the municipal beach along the Narew river, a short distance from the school. At the time of his arrest, the young man was wounded and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Ongoing investigation and school response
Dozens of officers are now interviewing witnesses and securing evidence at the scene. The investigation is in its early stages, and authorities have not yet disclosed a possible motive.
Żerański told the local news outlet Moja Ostrołęka that pupils who remained at the school are receiving care. Officers from the social prevention and pathology unit, who regularly work with young people, have been deployed to the site to provide support.
"The pupils who remained at the school are being looked after. Officers from the social prevention and pathology unit, who work with young people on a daily basis, are also on site," said Superintendent Tomasz Żerański.
The attack has sent shockwaves through the local community, where school violence of this kind is rare. Ostrołęka, a city of around 50,000 inhabitants, is known for its paper industry and its location on the Narew river, about 120 kilometres northeast of Warsaw.
This incident adds to a broader conversation across Europe about safety in educational institutions. In recent months, several European countries have grappled with violent episodes involving young people. For instance, a teenage attacker killed one and injured eight in a school stabbing in Istanbul, highlighting a regional concern. Meanwhile, student protests in France have turned violent, with police using tear gas in Paris and other cities, as seen in clashes in Marseille and Lille over funding cuts.
The Polish authorities have not indicated any link between this attack and broader security threats. The country has been on alert for hybrid attacks, and the EU recently expanded sanctions on Russia amid such concerns, but this incident appears to be an isolated act of violence.
Local officials have urged the public to avoid speculation while the investigation continues. The school has been closed for the day, and counselling services have been made available to students and staff.
As the community reels, questions are being raised about mental health support for young people and the effectiveness of early intervention programmes. Polish education authorities have promised a full review of the circumstances leading up to the attack.
