Man arrested over threats to Poland’s prime minister and defense minister
A man has been arrested in Poland after allegedly threatening an attack on Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, according to local officials.
The suspect, a Polish national approximately 60 years old, was detained Sunday in Lower Silesia, a region in southwestern Poland, according to Polish boradcaster TVN24.
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said police located the man after analyzing material posted online. Authorities are continuing to examine his contacts and internet activity.
“The man who threatened an attack has been detained,” Tusk said in a social media post. “I thank the police officers for their swift and decisive action.”
Interior Ministry spokesperson Karolina Gałecka said the man had sent an email containing threats against both Tusk and Kosiniak-Kamysz, who also serves as deputy prime minister. The message was sent to the State Protection Service, which provides security for senior Polish officials.
Police, State Protection Service officials and representatives of Poland’s Internal Security Agency held an urgent meeting at the agency’s headquarters to coordinate their response.
Jacek Dobrzyński, spokesperson for the minister overseeing Poland’s intelligence services, said the interior minister and intelligence services coordinator had ordered action after police received information about a possible attack on the two officials.
TVN24 reported, citing information it obtained unofficially, that the initial alert described contact with a radical organization through social media and a search for volunteers to carry out an attack using firearms. It also described a meeting with a man during which weapons, hatred of the government and a planned mass killing were discussed.
Warsaw police spokesperson Jacek Wiśniewski said the suspect would be taken to the capital for questioning by prosecutors if his health permitted. Police were still conducting searches at his apartment Sunday evening, according to the Interior Ministry.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
