Polish authorities have arrested a 19-year-old student suspected of plotting a Christmas market attack in Poland, allegedly with ties to the Islamic State, officials said on Tuesday. The suspect, identified only as Mateusz W., faces charges for preparing an act of terrorism that could have caused mass casualties.
The detention comes amid heightened vigilance ahead of the holiday season, following prior arrests of young individuals allegedly planning attacks across Poland. “The man was very fascinated by Islam, sought to establish contacts with the Islamic State, and was preparing an attack in Poland, in one of the cities during a Christmas market,” said Jacek Dobrzynski, spokesperson for Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW), during a press briefing. He declined to specify the city to prevent public panic.
Mateusz W., a student at the Catholic University of Lublin, was detained in late November at his apartment in eastern Poland. Authorities seized data carriers and items related to Islam during the operation. He has been formally charged with “undertaking preparatory actions to carry out a terrorist attack that could have resulted in the death or serious injury of many people,” and a court has ordered his pre-trial detention for three months.
Poland has faced several plots targeting public spaces in recent years. In mid-June, three 19-year-old men were charged with gathering pyrotechnic materials and planning terrorist actions, including a suspected school attack in Olsztyn, northern Poland. Dobrzynski noted the timing of such plots, saying, “You are familiar with this issue from Olsztyn, now we have another example of preparing an attack before Christmas.”
Authorities urged the public to remain alert as investigations continue. “We are shocked by the incident in Sydney, we are shocked by the attacks that occurred in previous years before Christmas in other European countries. Let’s remain vigilant,” Dobrzynski added.
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Polish law enforcement continues to monitor potential threats ahead of major public gatherings, particularly during the holiday season, showing the country’s commitment to preventing terrorist attacks.