In Radom, Poland, eight men beat up three 20-year-old Ukrainian nationals following an altercation that began with questions about their origins and a discussion about the Volhynia tragedy. This was reported by Onet and the local public prosecutor’s office. The victims suffered head and facial injuries; one suspect has been arrested, whilst the police are identifying seven further alleged participants.
Briefly about the main points
- The victims sustained head and facial injuries.
- The suspect, Tomas G., pleaded guilty and gave evidence.
- The court placed him under police supervision rather than remanding him in custody.
- The police are analysing CCTV footage to identify the other people involved.
An argument after the wedding escalated into violence
The incident took place at around 5 or 6 o’clock in the morning. According to the public prosecutor’s office, Tomasz G., a 34-year-old resident of Lublin, had travelled to Radom for a wedding and, after the celebrations, met a group of young Ukrainians on the street.
The victims told the investigators that the man had tried to give them a «lecture on Volhynia». Following a verbal altercation, he drew the attention of bystanders to the nationality of those he was speaking to, after which the assault began. According to the police, some of the men joined in whilst the altercation was already underway.
Head of the Radom-East District Public Prosecutor’s Office Cezary Oltazhevsky He reported that the victims had sustained head and facial injuries. The exact nature and severity of these injuries will be determined by an expert.
The suspect pleaded guilty but remained under supervision
After the attack, Tomasz G. left the scene, called a taxi and drove away. The police identified him and travelled to Lublin, from where he was taken to the public prosecutor’s office.
He was charged with using violence or making unlawful threats on discriminatory grounds, as well as with participating in an assault. The man pleaded guilty, gave a detailed account of the events and stated that he had been under the influence of alcohol after the wedding.
The court did not order his remand in custody, opting instead for police supervision. According to reports in the Polish media, the suspect could face up to five years’ imprisonment.
Investigators are identifying the other attackers
Law enforcement officers are reviewing CCTV footage and carrying out operational measures to identify the remaining suspected participants in the assault. According to the main suspect, he did not know the men who took part in the attack.
For this reason, the investigation currently has no grounds to believe that the attack was carried out by an organised criminal group. A final legal assessment of the actions of all those involved will be made once the other individuals have been identified and the investigation has been completed.
There have previously been reports of isolated attacks on Ukrainians in Radom
The Polish media have already reported on other cases cases of violence against Ukrainian citizens in Radom. In May, there were reports of a young Ukrainian man being beaten by a group of men who demanded that he sing a Polish song. The public prosecutor’s office has also referred another case to court concerning the brutal beating of a Ukrainian citizen.
