Polish student detained over alleged plot for mass attack at Christmas market

Polish security services have detained a student suspected of preparing a “mass attack” at a Christmas market, Jacek Dobrzynski, a spokesperson for Poland’s special services, says.

Mateusz W., a student at the Catholic University of Lublin, wanted to commit an attack using explosives and planned to join a terrorist organization, he says.

“The aim of the crime was to intimidate many people and support Islamic State. During the investigation, Internal Security Agency officers seized data carriers and items related to Islam,” Dobrzynski writes on platform X.

The prosecutor’s office charged Mateusz W. with “undertaking preparatory actions to carry out a terrorist attack that could have resulted in the death or serious injury of many people.”

“Furthermore, he took steps to establish contact with a terrorist organization, including obtaining its support in carrying out the attack,” the statement says.

Authorities did not immediately give further details about the suspect, who was placed in detention for a preliminary period of three months.