Priest killed and four injured in knife attack at Polish abbey

A priest has been killed and four other people injured in a knife attack in south-east Poland, officials have said.

A 31-year-old Ukrainian man was arrested after the stabbings on the grounds of a Catholic abbey in the town of Jarosław.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki said Thursday’s attack “has shaken us all and demands a firm response from the state”, while his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky said “we are shocked by this evil”.

Reports in Polish media said the attacker first injured a priest in a nearby cafe, and then another four people inside the abbey itself. A police investigation into the attacker’s motives is now under way.

Polish police said four men and one woman were stabbed in the attack on Thursday morning on the abbey grounds.

The name of the murdered priest has not been publicly released.

Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said psychological support was now being provided to all those affected by the incident.

Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the perpetrator “will be punished with the full severity of Polish law”.

Echoing his words, President Zelensky said “the perpetrator of this evil must bear full responsibility according to the law”, adding that Ukraine was counting on “a quick and thorough investigation of all circumstances”.

The Ukrainian embassy in Poland also condemned the attack.

In a statement, it said: “In such difficult moments, it is especially important to support each other, remain steadfast in respect for human life, and not allow pain to escalate into hatred or new violence. Responsibility for a crime must be based solely on the law.”

Poland has recently seen a number of often violent incidents involving its citizens and Ukrainians, many of whom have fled their home country after Russia’s full-scale invasion.