Polish police have significantly increased their presence around schools across the country following social media threats of a "bloody Friday" attack and a series of violent school stabbings in the Mazovia region. The heightened security measures, which began with targeted patrols on Thursday and expanded to active officer deployments on Friday morning, were triggered by a viral video warning of coordinated school attacks on October 9. The video circulated widely among anxious pupils and parents, specifically threatening a "massacre in Przasnysz." Local officers in Przasnysz acted swiftly, detaining a 17-year-old resident of Przasnysz county who is believed to be the author of the footage.
The online panic was compounded by two high-profile, real-world violent incidents earlier in the week. On Wednesday, a 19-year-old went on a knife rampage, injuring nine people at a school in Ostrołęka. The following day, another tragic attack occurred in Leszczydole-Nowinach near Wyszków, where a 15-year-old former student armed with a sharp tool, likely a knife, targeted a caretaker, the principal, and a teacher. A 37-year-old school employee died from her injuries, while two other victims were hospitalized with wounds.
National Police Commander-in-Chief Marek Boroń assured the public that law enforcement is taking all necessary precautions to protect students. "The police will do everything to ensure these schools are secure," Boroń told Polish media. He noted that the volume of threat reports has surged dramatically since the Ostrołęka stabbing, and he urged students and parents to remain vigilant. Boroń appealed to the public to report genuine suspicions directly to school staff or law enforcement, while also urging caution against spreading unverified rumors online. On Friday, officers are actively collaborating with school principals, teachers, and local authorities to coordinate safety protocols.
In a separate preventive action in Sierpc, cooperation between students, teachers, and police led to the detention of another 17-year-old who had voiced intentions to harm people at school. Officers seized two knives from the teenager after being alerted to his behavior.
As a further precaution, several school districts have altered their operations. All secondary schools in Ciechanów shifted to remote learning on Friday, and in-person classes were canceled in the district of Pułtusk, though local institutions are still expected to provide essential care for their pupils.
One of the main reasons behind the growing anxiety was a video that began circulating on social media platforms in the country.
