Poland experiences violent school attacks linked to online glorification of violence

A 37-year-old caretaker was killed at a primary school in Leszczydół-Nowiny, north of Warsaw, this week, as part of three violent attacks at Polish schools. Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that these attacks were driven by the "glorification of violence" online. The incidents have resulted in one fatality and several injuries, including children. Tusk noted on Sunday during a crisis meeting with security services that these attacks are often spontaneous actions inspired by online activity. Following the attacks, police arrested 117 individuals across the country for possession of knives or other weapons, or for threatening to attack schools or fellow students, after conducting searches at tens of thousands of schools. A woman was arrested on Saturday after injuring three people while attacking a 17-year-old girl at an educational institution in Warsaw. This incident followed two earlier stabbing attacks in the week, one of which resulted in the death of the caretaker. Tusk emphasized that they are not dealing with a large organized group, but rather a rise in fascination with violence both globally and in Poland. He described the attacks as acts of "nihilistic violence" associated with the extreme right, noting that some detainees are linked to ultraright environments. He also mentioned an increase in online searches for Nazi content and mass killers who have become online idols. On Wednesday, a 19-year-old student attacked and injured nine people at a vocational school in Mazovian province. A day later, a 15-year-old entered a primary school and killed the caretaker. Additionally, a 17-year-old was detained in Sierpc for allegedly threatening to harm someone on school grounds. In response to the stabbings, thousands of police officers visited schools nationwide to reassure students amid rumors of further attacks stemming from an alleged online challenge. Polish security services held a special meeting on Sunday after receiving information about a potential attack on Tusk and Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, with officials treating the threat as "deadly serious."