President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a swift and thorough investigation into the attack at the Yaroslav Abbey in Poland, where a priest was killed and four people were injured. Polish police arrested a 31-year-old Ukrainian national at the scene. The President stated that the perpetrator must be held accountable under the law, whilst investigators are establishing the motives and the exact sequence of events.
Briefly about the main points
- Zelenskyy has called for a full investigation into the circumstances of the attack in Yaroslav.
- The President expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
- The police arrested a 31-year-old Ukrainian national at the scene.
- Three priests were among those attacked; all the injured were taken to hospital.
- The Podkarpatsk Voivode has denied reports of the death of a second priest.
The President called for a full investigation into the circumstances
The President made the statement on 24 September. «We are counting on a swift and thorough investigation into all the circumstances,» he said Zelensky.
He emphasised that the perpetrator must be held fully accountable in accordance with the law. The Head of State expressed his deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The police are establishing the sequence of events surrounding the attack
The police received a report of an attack on the grounds of the abbey on Benediktynska Street at around 09:30 local time. According to preliminary information from the police, the attacker stabbed four men and one woman; three of those attacked were priests. All were taken to hospital, with three of the men suffering serious injuries.
The suspect was arrested at the scene. Law enforcement officers are searching the area, interviewing witnesses and establishing the motives and sequence of events. The Podkarpackie Voivode Teresa Kubas-Gul has refuted an earlier report concerning the death of the second injured priest. The Cathedral in Rzeszów has clarified that the priest is undergoing surgery.
The embassy has called for an end to hatred
Embassy The Ukrainian Embassy in Poland condemned the attack and expressed its condolences to the family of the victim. The embassy emphasised that there is no justification for violence against people, and that accountability for the crime must be based on the law.
Diplomats called for the tragedy not to be allowed to become a pretext for hatred or further violence. The embassy also thanked the Polish emergency services and medical staff who responded following the attack.
