Warsaw: A shocking act of violence struck the University of Warsaw on Wednesday evening when a 22-year-old Polish man carried out a brutal axe attack that left one person dead and another critically injured. Authorities confirmed that the suspect was detained shortly after the incident, which took place on the university’s main campus.
“Police have detained a man who entered the University of Warsaw campus. One person died, another was taken to hospital with injuries,” Warsaw Police said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). According to law enforcement, the attack unfolded around 6:40 p.m. local time (1640 GMT), when the assailant targeted individuals with an axe.
The suspect, identified as a Polish citizen, is reportedly a third-year law student at the university, according to Gazeta Wyborcza daily. Private broadcaster Polsat News reported disturbing details from the crime scene, including the discovery of a woman’s severed head and an axe. However, a spokesperson for the district prosecutor’s office declined to confirm that information, stating that investigations are ongoing.
What has been confirmed is that the victim was a female administrative employee of the university. A university security guard was also injured during the attack and remains in critical condition at a nearby hospital. The assailant allegedly entered an auditorium where the incident occurred, though the motive behind the attack has not been disclosed.
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Reuters journalists at the scene observed a heavy police presence, with multiple police vans stationed and a security cordon placed around the auditorium.
In a statement released following the attack, the Rector of the University of Warsaw declared May 8 as a day of mourning, describing the violence as a “huge tragedy”.
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“We express our great sorrow and sympathy to the family and loved ones,” the university said, as the campus community reeled from the traumatic event.
The investigation remains active, and authorities have not yet disclosed additional details about the suspect’s background or whether he had prior disciplinary issues or a criminal record.
