Seven people were wounded in a knife attack at a vocational school in Ostrołęka, north-eastern Poland, on Wednesday morning, police said. A 19-year-old student from the school was detained near the town beach, less than a kilometre from the scene, after apparently trying to flee.
The attack took place at around 0900 GMT (11 a.m. local time) at Vocational School Complex No. 4 in Ostrołęka, a town about 120 kilometres north-east of Warsaw, according to prosecutor Elżbieta Łukasiewicz, who spoke to private broadcaster TVN24.
What happened
Police spokesperson Katarzyna Kucharska told Reuters that a 19-year-old student from the school was detained near the town beach. "We have preliminary information about seven people being injured, but this is very tentative and may change," Kucharska said. "I have no information about any fatalities."
Prosecutor Łukasiewicz told TVN24 that the attacker entered the school and attacked students and teachers with a dangerous tool. Emergency services were dispatched to the school, and provincial police later posted a photograph on X showing a man they had apprehended lying face down in a wooded area.
The victims
Most of the wounded were students, with one teacher also injured, according to private broadcaster RMF FM, which reported that two of the seven were in serious condition. The fire department told Poland's PAP news agency that those injured included three adults and five teenagers, and police said five of the seven victims were under 18.
The injured were being treated at the Mazovian Specialist Hospital in Ostrołęka, and a representative of the hospital's accident and emergency department told TVN24 that the patients would not be transferred to other hospitals.
Ostrołęka Mayor Paweł Niewiadomski confirmed that an attack had taken place and that several people were injured. "The most important information is that the situation has been brought under control," Niewiadomski said in a statement.
A community in shock
Ostrołęka is a mid-sized town on the Narew river in the Masovian voivodeship, known more for its quiet provincial life than for headline crime. Wednesday's attack has shaken a community where school violence of this kind is rare, and it lands amid a broader European conversation about safety in schools — from violent incidents to the student protest movement sweeping French high schools this autumn.
The attack also recalls the deadly school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, Canada, earlier this year, a reminder that schools on both sides of the Atlantic have faced sporadic but devastating violence.
Police said officers at the scene were carrying out procedures and determining the course of events. The investigation into the suspect's motives is in its earliest stages, and prosecutors have not yet indicated what charges the 19-year-old will face.
Key takeaways
- Seven people were wounded in a knife attack at Vocational School Complex No. 4 in Ostrołęka, Poland, on Wednesday, October 7.
- Police detained a 19-year-old student from the school near the town beach; he is believed to have fled the scene.
- Two of the injured were reported to be in serious condition; five of the seven victims were under 18.
- The attack occurred at around 0900 GMT; prosecutor Elżbieta Łukasiewicz said the attacker entered the school and used a dangerous tool.
- Ostrołęka's mayor confirmed the attack and said the situation had been brought under control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the attack take place?
The attack happened at Vocational School Complex No. 4 in Ostrołęka, a town in north-eastern Poland about 120 kilometres north-east of Warsaw.
How many people were injured?
Polish police reported preliminary information about seven people injured, stressing the figure could change. Two of the wounded were reported to be in serious condition, according to private broadcaster RMF FM.
Who is the suspect?
A 19-year-old student from the school was detained near the town beach, less than a kilometre from the scene, after apparently trying to flee. Police have not released further details about his identity or motives.
Were there any fatalities?
Police spokesperson Katarzyna Kucharska told Reuters she had no information about any fatalities at the time of her statement on Wednesday.
What happens next?
The suspect is in custody and prosecutors are investigating the attack. The course of events is still being established, and authorities have not yet said what charges will be brought.
Sources
- Reuters — "Seven injured in Polish school knife attack, police say" (October 7, 2026)
