At least nine people were injured when a 19-year-old student allegedly attacked pupils and teachers with a sharp weapon at a school in the Polish city of Ostroleka.
The incident took place at Vocational School Complex No. 4, about 12 miles north of Warsaw, with the suspect later arrested after fleeing the school grounds.
Students and Teachers Among Those Injured
Mariusz Frankowski, the regional governor, said five students, two teachers and two passers-by were injured in the attack.
Earlier information from police and prosecutors had put the number of injured at seven and eight, respectively, as emergency services continued assessing the situation.
Ostroleka police spokesman Mariusz Zeranski said none of those injured was believed to be in life-threatening condition.
“The lives of none of the injured are in danger,” Zeranski told reporters.
The injured were taken to Mazovian Specialist Hospital in Ostroleka, where they were being treated in the Accident and Emergency department.
Suspect Fled Before Police Arrest
The alleged attacker left the school after the assault but was located near the municipal beach on the Narew River approximately 25 minutes after the incident was reported.
Police said officers detained the 19-year-old near the beach after receiving information that a man had attacked people with a sharp object on and around the school premises.
A photograph released by police showed a man lying face down in a wooded area while surrounded by officers.
His face and hands had been pixelated in the image.
Teenager Received Medical Treatment
Prosecutors said the suspect had harmed himself and was treated by emergency services following his arrest.
He was subsequently discharged from hospital and placed in police custody.
Elzbieta Lukasiewicz of the Ostroleka prosecutor’s office said the teenager had entered the school and attacked pupils and teachers with what she described as a dangerous tool.
She told broadcaster TVN24 that the attack happened at around 9am GMT.
“It appears that the boy went into the school and attacked the students and teachers with a dangerous tool,” Lukasiewicz said.
School Evacuated as Police Investigate
Students and staff were evacuated from the building after the attack, while police psychologists were brought in to care for the students.
An air ambulance helicopter and firefighters were also sent to the scene.
Bomb disposal specialists removed a bag that had reportedly been left behind by the suspect at the school.
Police officers remained at the scene as investigators worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack. The school was also closed as a precaution.
Previous Violent Attacks in Poland
The incident comes after several other violent attacks in Poland in recent months.
In September, police arrested a 31-year-old Ukrainian man following a stabbing at the Abbey of Benedictine Sisters in Jarosław, south-east Poland.
The September 24 attack left a priest dead and four other people injured.
Three priests were reportedly left in life-threatening condition following the incident.
Sister Barbara Dendor confirmed the death of Father Stanisław and said another priest, Father Marek, was seriously injured.
In May, a woman was killed and a security guard seriously injured in an axe attack at the University of Warsaw.
Police arrested 22-year-old Polish man Mieszko Ruciński in connection with that incident.
Gazeta Wyborcza reported that he was a third-year law student.
The district prosecutor’s office said the man had entered an auditorium at the university.
He was later charged with murder and attempted murder.
In August, however, a court dismissed the case after psychiatric assessments determined that Ruciński had been experiencing psychosis during the attack and was unable to stand trial.
He was subsequently committed indefinitely to a secure psychiatric facility.
