Poland deploys about 20,000 police to schools after three stabbing attacks

Poland deployed about 20,000 police officers to schools on Monday after three stabbing attacks in four days triggered fears of copycat violence. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the security operation and the passage of time had reduced online tension, but that protection would continue while authorities saw cause for concern.

Reuters reported that police had made 135 arrests connected to threats and online posts. Officials said many cases involved young people seeking attention, while some appeared influenced by violent games or extremist subcultures. Authorities dismissed rumours that the attacks formed part of an organised online challenge.

The sequence began with attacks in Ostrołęka and Leszczydół-Nowiny, where a school caretaker was killed and teachers and students were injured. A third attack at a further-education college in Warsaw on Saturday injured three people. Prosecutors also detained a 21-year-old man in Lublin on suspicion of planning a racially motivated knife attack; that allegation remains subject to investigation and court process.

The deployment places roughly one-fifth of Poland’s police force around schools. The immediate measure may deter further violence, but officials say they also intend to accelerate rules for removing harmful online content, a longer-term step that will require safeguards for lawful speech.