Many injured in knife attack at school in Poland

At least eight people were injured in a knife attack at a vocational school in Poland, two of them very seriously. The suspected perpetrator, a 19-year-old, was arrested, a police spokeswoman told Polsat News. The injured, including both students and teachers, were taken to hospitals by ambulance and rescue helicopter. The attack took place in a vocational school center in the town of Ostrołęka in the Masovian Voivodeship, almost 100 kilometers north of Warsaw.

Witnesses heard cries for help

According to eyewitness reports, the young man is said to have held a knife in his hand and attacked people. The attackers shouted “help” and “call the police”. Police, fire brigade and rescue services rushed to the scene of the accident. Some students barricaded themselves in the classrooms. After the attack, the perpetrator left the school grounds, it was said. He was arrested about half an hour later after a search operation on the outskirts of the city, said the police spokeswoman.

The possible motive of the perpetrator is still being investigated. The suspect also injured himself and is receiving medical treatment, said a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office. The PAP news agency, citing the voivodship police headquarters, reported that the young man himself was a student at the vocational school. His backpack was confiscated and should first be examined by experts for explosives.

Psychological help offered

The mayor of Ostroleka, Pawel Niewiadomski, emphasized that the situation was under control. He announced psychological support for the affected students and teachers: “We will pay special attention to those students who have personally experienced severe stress or a feeling of threat.” The mayor also asked not to spread unconfirmed information. The vocational school center in the city with around 48,000 residents remains closed until further notice.