Polish security services have detained a 17-year-old suspected of plotting a mass attack on civilian targets, including a school and a mosque. The teenager, identified in local media as Paweł G., was taken into custody by officers from the Internal Security Agency (ABW) in Katowice and has been placed in pre-trial detention for three months by court order.
The arrest follows an ongoing ABW investigation into minors active in online neo-Nazi and extremist circles. In mid-September, the agency reported the detention of two other minors linked to such groups. Analysts examining their contacts and digital footprints led investigators to Paweł G., who was subsequently searched and had electronic devices seized for forensic examination.
Extremist online activity and alleged planning
According to ABW findings, Paweł G. was active on Telegram and Discord, where he participated in groups discussing previous terrorist attacks and their perpetrators. Members of these channels examined the methods used in earlier assaults, treating them as a source of inspiration, and raised the possibility of carrying out further attacks.
The suspect is believed to have belonged to the Atomwaffen Polska group and to have co-created a group called Bierut Soldier ZNB. Both groups reportedly contained neo-Nazi symbols and content, along with discussions of violence and terrorism.
Polish Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek said the teenager had planned “a mass terrorist attack,” including on a school and a mosque. In a statement on X, Żurek declared: “There is no and will be no leniency for fascism, hatred and the planning of bloody attacks in Poland. Anyone who raises a hand against the security of Poles will face the full severity of the law. Security is not an area for compromise. It is the foundation of our community.”
Prosecutors are also examining information about planned purchases of weapons and military equipment, as well as the collection of materials linked to terrorist organizations. The two additional charges relate to participation in an organized criminal group involved in preparing terrorist offences, promoting Nazism and fascism, and inciting hatred.
Evidence gathered during the investigation is said to support the likelihood that the suspect committed the offences. During the search of his home, officers reportedly found knives, a bayonet for an AKM-type rifle, and books, patches, and other materials bearing fascist and Nazi symbols.
Analysis of data from seized devices allegedly revealed correspondence about planning mass attacks, including potential targets such as a school and a mosque. The conversations reportedly covered surveillance of targets, methods of carrying out attacks, and issues related to obtaining weapons, ammunition, and military equipment. Messages also contained information on the use of grenades and Molotov cocktails.
The case highlights the ongoing challenge of far-right extremism in Poland, a country that has also faced heightened security concerns amid the war in neighbouring Ukraine. Polish authorities have repeatedly warned about Russian drone incursions and have scrambled jets in response to strikes near the border, as recent incidents have shown. The government has also been vocal about the need for vigilance against hybrid threats, including cyberattacks, as seen in other contexts.
The investigation remains ongoing, with ABW officers continuing to analyse the suspect's contacts and digital footprint to determine whether other individuals were involved. The case underscores the broader European concern about radicalization online and the need for cross-border cooperation in countering extremist networks.
