Polish security officials convened an emergency counterterrorism meeting Sunday after receiving information about possible attacks on two senior government leaders, amid heightened concerns over political violence, recent school stabbings and potential Russian operations targeting NATO countries.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
WARSAW, Poland — Polish intelligence and law enforcement authorities are investigating a possible assassination plot targeting Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, prompting an emergency security meeting Sunday as officials warned that the reported threat was serious and required immediate attention.
The alert reached Poland’s State Protection Service, the agency responsible for protecting senior government officials, before being forwarded to police. According to Reuters reporting on the security operation, officials received information about a potential attack through an email, leading senior government security personnel to coordinate a response.
Karolina Gałecka, spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, confirmed that Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński and Tomasz Siemoniak, the minister responsible for coordinating Poland’s intelligence and security services, had ordered action after authorities became aware of the reported threat.
In a statement issued Sunday, Gałecka identified both Tusk and Kosiniak-Kamysz as potential targets and announced an emergency meeting involving the country’s principal security agencies.
“Following information received by the Polish Police regarding a possible attack on Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Interior Minister, Marcin Kierwiński, and the Minister-Coordinator of Special Services, Tomasz Siemoniak, have ordered action to be taken in this matter,” Gałecka wrote.
Representatives from the police, State Protection Service, Internal Security Agency and Interior Ministry were instructed to participate in the meeting, which was scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. local time, or 0900 GMT, at the Internal Security Agency’s Counterterrorism Center.
The meeting was intended to assess the credibility of the information, evaluate potential risks to the officials and determine whether additional protective measures were necessary. Authorities did not immediately disclose the suspected attackers’ identities, any alleged operational plans or evidence establishing how the reported attack might be carried out.
Following the meeting, Jacek Dobrzyński, spokesperson for Poland’s intelligence services, told reporters that authorities regarded the information as serious and were taking steps to address the potential danger.
Dobrzyński said the threat was considered highly probable and concerning, although officials declined to release specific details about the intelligence underlying that assessment. Security agencies had agreed on additional actions, but he did not identify those measures publicly.
The Associated Press reported Sunday that the information had triggered a coordinated response among Poland’s national security institutions. Authorities had not announced any arrests or publicly identified an organization or individual suspected of planning an attack.
The situation remains an investigation into a reported threat rather than confirmation that an assassination attempt was underway. Officials have not established whether the information originated from a credible operational plan, an individual threat or another form of communication requiring examination.
The government’s response reflects the sensitivity of a potential attack against two of Poland’s most senior officials. Tusk oversees the country’s civilian government, while Kosiniak-Kamysz holds responsibility for national defense and serves as deputy prime minister.
An attack targeting both leaders could have significant implications for Poland’s political stability and security administration, particularly during a period of heightened military tensions along NATO’s eastern frontier.
The two officials have prominent roles in Poland’s response to Russia’s war against Ukraine. Tusk has advocated continued European support for Kyiv, while Kosiniak-Kamysz oversees the country’s military preparations, defense spending and coordination with NATO allies.
Poland shares borders with Ukraine, Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad region, placing it at the center of European security concerns involving Moscow and the war in Ukraine.
As a NATO member, Poland also provides military and logistical support to alliance operations and has served as a major transit point for assistance delivered to Ukrainian forces.
The possibility of violence against senior Polish officials has therefore drawn attention against a broader background of security warnings involving foreign interference, sabotage and threats to countries supporting Ukraine.
In September, Tusk warned that Russia could intensify hybrid operations against NATO members located near its borders. He said Polish authorities were concerned about potential attacks involving drones or missiles against European countries providing military and financial assistance to Kyiv.
The prime minister argued that such operations could be intended to weaken Western support for Ukraine by increasing political pressure and insecurity within NATO member states.
Moscow has denied allegations that it intends to attack NATO countries or conduct operations designed to expand the conflict beyond Ukraine.
Polish authorities have not publicly connected Sunday’s reported assassination plot to Russia, and no evidence has been released establishing foreign involvement. The government’s earlier warnings about hybrid threats provide security context but do not demonstrate responsibility for the newly reported threat.
Hybrid warfare generally refers to the use of conventional and unconventional methods, including sabotage, cyberattacks, disinformation and covert operations, to influence or destabilize an adversary without necessarily engaging in open military conflict.
Poland has previously accused Russian and Belarusian intelligence services of involvement in hostile operations, including attempted sabotage and efforts to interfere with infrastructure. Such allegations have contributed to increased surveillance, border security measures and counterintelligence activity.
The German broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported that Sunday’s emergency meeting took place while Polish authorities were already operating under heightened security conditions following a series of violent attacks at educational institutions.
Three separate stabbing incidents within four days in the Mazovia region, which includes Warsaw, had prompted a nationwide police response and widespread concern among parents, students and school employees.
The most recent attack occurred Saturday at an educational institution in Warsaw, where a 21-year-old student allegedly attacked three women. Police said two 17-year-old girls and a 24-year-old woman were injured, with one requiring hospital treatment.
Authorities reported that the victims did not appear to have known the attacker. The incident was the third stabbing associated with an educational facility in the region in less than a week.
Earlier Thursday, a 15-year-old boy allegedly attacked staff members at a school in Leszczydół-Nowiny, killing a caretaker and injuring two teachers. The violence prompted an emergency response and intensified fears about additional attacks at schools.
The day before, a 19-year-old suspect reportedly injured 10 people at a school in Ostrołęka, leading to further police deployments and increased monitoring of potential threats.
The series of attacks documented by Reuters prompted authorities to inspect approximately 50,000 educational institutions and detain 76 individuals, primarily teenagers suspected of issuing threats or engaging in related conduct.
Many of the threats circulated online, including messages referring to a supposed campaign of coordinated violence against schools. Authorities investigated allegations that additional attacks were being encouraged through social media.
Police also examined online discussions concerning a purported “Bloody Friday” campaign, which generated concern among students and parents and contributed to temporary school closures and increased security.
However, Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said investigators had not established verified evidence linking the incidents to a coordinated online challenge.
The earlier police investigation into threats against schools included inquiries into whether online rumors were encouraging copycat behavior or spreading false information intended to create public alarm.
Polish cybersecurity authorities also examined the possibility that some threatening messages could be part of broader disinformation operations. Officials cautioned that such concerns remained under investigation and that no evidence had established foreign coordination of the school attacks.
The violent incidents have nevertheless increased the workload facing Polish security agencies. Police have been required to respond to threats involving schools while intelligence officials continue monitoring potential hostile operations connected to the regional geopolitical situation.
The reported threat against Tusk and Kosiniak-Kamysz adds another concern because it involves potential violence targeting national government leadership rather than public institutions or individual schools.
Poland has experienced previous threats against senior politicians, including incidents involving individuals accused of making violent statements or expressing intentions to attack government officials.
In 2024, Tusk reported receiving threats following the attempted assassination of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was shot and seriously wounded during a public appearance. The attack in Slovakia raised concerns across Europe about political violence and the security of elected officials.
Earlier this year, Polish authorities also arrested a 23-year-old man accused of inciting violence against senior political figures, adding to concerns about threats circulating through online platforms.
Although political assassination attempts remain relatively uncommon in Poland, the country has experienced episodes of violence involving public officials. Those incidents have influenced security planning and the protection provided to senior leaders during official duties and public appearances.
The State Protection Service maintains responsibility for safeguarding Poland’s highest-ranking officials, including the prime minister and president. Its personnel coordinate with police and intelligence agencies when information suggests a possible threat involving public appearances, travel or government facilities.
In the present case, authorities have not disclosed whether additional protective personnel have been assigned to Tusk or Kosiniak-Kamysz, whether planned engagements have been modified or whether investigators have identified a specific location associated with the reported threat.
The absence of public details reflects the continuing investigation and the operational sensitivity of protecting potential targets.
As of Sunday’s initial announcements, neither Tusk nor Kosiniak-Kamysz had issued a detailed public statement responding to the reported assassination plot. Officials also had not identified any specific connection between the threat and the recent attacks involving schools.
The security alert comes as Poland continues strengthening its defense capabilities in response to Russia’s military operations in Ukraine. Warsaw has pursued substantial military investments, expanded its armed forces and increased cooperation with NATO partners.
Those measures have made Poland an important participant in European defense planning, while also increasing the visibility of its political and military leadership in disputes involving Russia and Western security policy.
Tusk’s government has repeatedly warned that the effects of the war in Ukraine could extend beyond the battlefield through cyberattacks, sabotage, infrastructure disruptions and other security incidents affecting European countries.
Nevertheless, determining responsibility for Sunday’s reported threat will require investigators to establish the credibility of the information and identify any individuals or organizations involved.
The emergency meeting marked the government’s first coordinated response to the warning, with senior officials reviewing the available intelligence and authorizing further action.
Polish authorities have emphasized that the matter is being treated seriously, but they have not released enough evidence to determine whether an attack had been planned, how advanced any preparations might have been or whether the threat remains active.
The investigation is continuing as Poland’s security agencies manage heightened concerns about violence at schools, possible attacks on government leaders and broader threats associated with the conflict in neighboring Ukraine.
For now, the country’s law enforcement and intelligence services are focused on determining the source and credibility of the information concerning Tusk and Kosiniak-Kamysz while maintaining protective measures for senior government officials.
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