A priest has died and four other people have been wounded in a knife attack at the Benedictine Sisters Monastery in Jarosław, south-eastern Poland. Police were dispatched to the scene at around 9.30am local time on Thursday after reports that five people had been stabbed.
Victims and suspect
Prosecutors confirmed that three of those hurt were members of the clergy, while two were members of the public. One of the priests, named as Stanisław Zbojnowicz, lost his life after suffering a stab wound to the chest.
A 31-year-old Ukrainian national has been taken into custody in connection with the attack. Officers are investigating the circumstances and probing possible motives. Bożena Harasz-Wołoszyń, from the District Prosecutor's Office in Przemyśl, confirmed: "Three of the victims are clergy members and two are laypeople; one person has died."
Ms Harasz-Wołoszyń added: "Two people are in a critical, life-threatening condition."
Hospital treatment and reaction
All five victims were rushed to hospital in the aftermath of the assault, with three of the men initially believed to have suffered grave injuries. A further priest, Marek Piekowski, underwent surgery after sustaining multiple stab wounds to his chest and lower limbs.
Rzeszów Cathedral said its community had been left "filled with great sadness" in the wake of the attack. Sister Barbara Dendor informed Polish state broadcaster TVP Info: "We are aware that Father Stanislaw has passed away and Father Marek is in serious condition; there are other casualties, but we do not have further details."
Recalling her arrival at the scene, she added: "When I arrived, there was total panic; young people who had come out of the centre witnessed it - they were saying, 'Some madman, some madman!'"
Location and aftermath
The attack is believed to have occurred close to the church cafeteria and the Church of St Nicholas and St Stanislaus the Bishop, situated within the monastery grounds.
Poland's interior minister, Marcin Kierwiski, described the events as "tragic". Posting on X, he wrote: "Tragic events in Jarosaw. A Ukrainian citizen was immediately detained by police after an attack on five people. The services are investigating the motives and circumstances of the incident."
The mayor of Jarosaw, Marcin Nazarewicz, confirmed that emergency measures had been implemented, with nearby schools being assigned extra security. He also announced a period of mourning across the city that would last until the end of the week.
Police remained at the location while forensic experts gathered evidence, as authorities cordoned off the area surrounding the monastery. The Benedictine Sisters Monastery, which dates back to 1611, is home to the Church of St Nicholas and St Stanislaus Bishop, constructed between 1614 and 1624. The historic site suffered damage throughout the Second World War, although it was later repaired.
