Warsaw: Polish police have arrested a man suspected of plotting an attack on Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the interior ministry told AFP on Sunday.
The suspect, a man in his 60s and a Polish citizen, was detained in the southwestern region of Lower Silesia, and searches were continuing at his home, ministry spokeswoman Karolina Galecka said. "Information about this man will of course then be verified by the police," she added.
Tracked through online content
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said security services tracked the suspect down through a detailed analysis of content posted online, and that his contacts and internet activity were being examined.
Police were alerted by the State Protection Service, the body responsible for protecting senior politicians, after it received an email containing information about a potential attack. Polish broadcaster TVN24 reported that a person alerted security services about an individual seeking volunteers to carry out an attack using firearms, who had discussed weapons and hatred of the government with a man named Krzysztof.
Treated as "deadly serious"
Jacek Dobrzyński, a spokesman for the minister-coordinator of special services, told reporters: "We are treating this matter as deadly serious," adding there was a "strong likelihood" the threat could have been carried out. Government spokesman Adam Szłapka said the latest intelligence was considerably more alarming than threats received previously, and that officials made the case public deliberately to avoid speculation.
Tusk announced the arrest on X, writing that "the man threatening an attack has been detained" and praising police for their "swift and decisive action."
Poland has been on high alert following a wave of school violence. Police said on Sunday that nearly 64,000 institutions had been inspected and 117 people detained following violent incidents on school grounds.
Sources:
Poland holds suspect in alleged assassination plot against PM Tusk — CNA (AFP)
Polish police detain man over PM threat — The Straits Times (Reuters)
The suspect, a man in his 60s and a Polish citizen, was detained in the southwestern region of Lower Silesia, and searches were continuing at his home, ministry spokeswoman Karolina Galecka said. "Information about this man will of course then be verified by the police," she added.
Tracked through online content
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said security services tracked the suspect down through a detailed analysis of content posted online, and that his contacts and internet activity were being examined.
Police were alerted by the State Protection Service, the body responsible for protecting senior politicians, after it received an email containing information about a potential attack. Polish broadcaster TVN24 reported that a person alerted security services about an individual seeking volunteers to carry out an attack using firearms, who had discussed weapons and hatred of the government with a man named Krzysztof.
Treated as "deadly serious"
Jacek Dobrzyński, a spokesman for the minister-coordinator of special services, told reporters: "We are treating this matter as deadly serious," adding there was a "strong likelihood" the threat could have been carried out. Government spokesman Adam Szłapka said the latest intelligence was considerably more alarming than threats received previously, and that officials made the case public deliberately to avoid speculation.
Tusk announced the arrest on X, writing that "the man threatening an attack has been detained" and praising police for their "swift and decisive action."
Poland has been on high alert following a wave of school violence. Police said on Sunday that nearly 64,000 institutions had been inspected and 117 people detained following violent incidents on school grounds.
Sources:
Poland holds suspect in alleged assassination plot against PM Tusk — CNA (AFP)
Polish police detain man over PM threat — The Straits Times (Reuters)
