Key facts
- A priest was killed and four other people were injured in a knife attack at the Benedictine Sisters' Abbey in Jarosław, Poland.
- A 31-year-old Ukrainian national was arrested after the attack.
- The attacker stabbed four men and one woman on the abbey grounds on the morning of September 24.
- Three of the victims were members of the clergy.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as "a horrific crime" and called for the perpetrator to bear full legal responsibility.
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated the assailant is a Ukrainian citizen and will be punished to the full extent of Polish law.
A 31-year-old Ukrainian man fatally stabbed a priest and injured four others at the Benedictine Sisters' Abbey in Jarosław, Poland, on September 24. The town of Jarosław is located approximately 35 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Local officials reported that the attacker stabbed four men and one woman on the abbey grounds before police arrived. Three of the victims were members of the clergy. All victims were taken to the hospital, where one priest died from his injuries. Two other victims remain in serious condition, according to District Prosecutor Bozena Harasz-Woloszyn.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed the assailant is a Ukrainian national and is in police custody, stating, "The perpetrator is a Ukrainian citizen. He will be punished to the full extent of Polish law. My heart goes out to the loved ones of the victims of this brutal attack." The investigation into the motive is ongoing. The suspect reportedly entered Poland from Germany overnight and was heading toward the Ukrainian border when apprehended.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack on social media, calling it "a horrific crime" and "evil." He extended condolences and emphasized that "The perpetrator of this evil must bear full responsibility in accordance with the law. ... Justice must be done."
The incident occurs amid strained Polish-Ukrainian relations, with a majority of Poles reportedly holding more negative attitudes toward Ukraine and Ukrainians, and interpersonal violence on the rise. The Kremlin has reportedly amplified disinformation narratives concerning the dispute.