.jpg)
The 31-year-old, identified by investigators as Ihor M., went on his rampage in the grounds of the Benedictine Sisters’ abbey in the city of Jarosław on Thursday.
Three of the five victims were clergy members, while the other two were a man and a woman. One of the priests injured in the attack has since been discharged from hospital, officials said.
Małgorzata Taciuch-Kurasiewicz, a spokesperson for the local prosecutor’s office, said on Friday that the condition of the other victims who remain hospitalized was stable and that their lives were not in danger.
She added that prosecutors have prepared murder, attempted murder and serious bodily injury charges against Ihor M., but whether the charges can be formally presented to him will depend on his medical condition.
If doctors determine that he is unable to participate in the proceedings, prosecutors will ask the court to place him in pretrial detention, she said.
Attack in the abbey
“He wanted a glass of water. When one of the priests pointed out that only employees were allowed in the kitchen, he took a knife and attacked the priest,” Katia, a 40-year-old Ukrainian woman who works at the monastery told Poland’s state news agency PAP.
The woman added that the abbey regularly hosts groups from Ukraine and welcomes people attending various events organized by the Benedictine sisters.
Jarosław, a city of around 35,000 people located about 35 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, has been a hub for aid to Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s war since 2022.
A Christian Culture and Information Center is located next to the monastery where the attack took place. Since the beginning of the war, the center has provided assistance to hundreds of Ukrainians displaced by the conflict.
Increased police presence
The attack has raised concerns that it could fuel anti-Ukrainian sentiment in the city, prompting authorities to increase the police presence in Jarosław to help maintain security.
“There will be more police patrols on the streets. We are somewhat concerned about possible repercussions, which is why there will also be an increased police presence,” city mayor Marcin Nazarewicz said.
Poland’s Primate, Archbishop Wojciech Polak, appealed on Thursday for the attack not to deepen divisions between Poles and Ukrainians.
“Let this criminal act committed by one person not give rise to hatred and hostility toward our sisters and brothers from Ukraine,” Polak said in a statement, asking for prayers for those affected by the attack.
Poland has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest allies and has taken in hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion.
In recent months, however, tensions between Poles and Ukrainians have grown amid the prolonged war and longstanding historical disputes between the two countries.
Ongoing investigation
The motive for the attack remains unknown.
According to investigators, Ihor M. entered Poland from Germany overnight on Thursday and drove toward the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing at Korczowa, but did not cross into Ukraine.
Media outlet Radio ESKA reported that he was unable to cross the border because of problems with his vehicle insurance.
Investigators are now working to establish how the man ended up in Jarosław after his unsuccessful attempt to leave Poland.