Polish Police Arrest Suspect Over Alleged Plot to Attack PM Donald Tusk

WARSAW, Oct 11: Polish police have arrested a man suspected of threatening and planning an attack on Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski announced on Sunday.

Kierwinski did not disclose the suspect’s identity or provide details about the nature of the alleged attack.

Tusk confirmed the arrest in a post on X, thanking the police for their swift response. He said the individual who had threatened an attack was taken into custody following prompt action by law enforcement agencies.

The arrest comes amid heightened security concerns in Poland following a series of violent incidents at schools and growing fears of potential Russian hybrid operations aimed at undermining Western support for Ukraine.

Earlier on Sunday, Polish police reported receiving information about a possible plot targeting Tusk and Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz.

Jacek Dobrzynski, spokesperson for the minister responsible for overseeing Poland’s intelligence services, said authorities were treating the matter with utmost seriousness. He indicated that officials considered the threats credible, with a high probability that they could be carried out.

Dobrzynski made the remarks following an emergency meeting involving intelligence agencies, police officials and representatives of the Interior Ministry. According to him, the initial information about the suspected threat was received by the state protection service, which subsequently alerted the police.

Although officials withheld further details about the alleged plan, Dobrzynski noted that intelligence agencies were receiving an increasing number of threats of various kinds each month.

Government spokesperson Adam Szlapka told Polish media that Tusk was informed about the threat early Sunday morning. He described the reported incident as exceptionally concerning, despite the fact that public officials periodically receive threats.

The development follows a series of violent incidents in schools across Poland’s central Mazovia province. Three separate attacks were reported within four days this week, leaving one person dead and several others injured, including children.

The incidents have added to concerns about public safety as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the violence and strengthen their response to potential threats.

Poland has also expressed concern over the possibility of intensified hybrid attacks linked to Russia, particularly against countries on NATO’s eastern flank that support Ukraine.

In September, Tusk warned that Russia could step up hostile activities against European nations backing Kyiv in its war against Moscow’s full-scale invasion. He referred to concerns about possible drone or missile strikes intended to weaken Western unity and reduce assistance to Ukraine.

Moscow has denied having plans to carry out such attacks against European countries.

The latest arrest highlights the security challenges facing Polish authorities as they respond to threats against senior government officials while remaining alert to broader regional tensions.

Officials have not released further information about the arrested man or indicated whether additional suspects are being investigated.