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On Thursday, social media were flooded with claims about alleged planned attacks on schools. Among pupils and parents, screenshots and recordings have been circulating, warning of a so-called “bloody Friday”, said to fall on Friday 9 October.
The reports appeared after a series of serious incidents in schools in the Mazovia region.
On Wednesday, a 19-year-old attacked nine people with a knife at a school in Ostrołęka. The following day in Leszczydole-Nowinach, a 15-year-old former pupil attacked three people, where a 37-year-old school employee died from her injuries.
Boosted police presence in schools
In response to mounting concern, police have announced reinforced preventive measures. National Police Commander-in-Chief Marek Boroń said officers would be present around schools from Friday morning to help combat the threat and ease anxiety.
“The police will do everything to ensure these schools are secure” – Boroń told Polish media outlets.
He added that patrols had already appeared near school premises on Thursday and were in contact with their representatives. On Friday, officers are expected to work with principals, teachers and local authorities.
The police chief also appealed to pupils and parents to report any credible suspicions of planned violence to teachers or law enforcement directly.
Boroń added that after the attack in Ostrołęka, the number of reports about potential threats has risen sharply. He also urged caution in spreading information about alleged attacks.
Social media-induced panic
One of the main reasons behind the growing anxiety was a video that began circulating on social media platforms in the country.
According to Polish news outlets, the material referred to alleged plans to attack schools as part of “bloody Friday”, after its author had announced a “massacre in Przasnysz”.
Officers in Przasnysz quickly took up the case. They detained a 17-year-old resident of Przasnysz county, who is believed to be the likely author of the video.
“Officers detained a 17-year-old resident of Przasnysz county, who is the probable author of the video circulating online. Activities with the man are under way” Mazovian police reported.
Schools closed on Friday
Alarming reports have also emerged in other localities.
In Sierpc, police detained a 17-year-old who had said he intended to hurt someone at school. Two knives were found on the teenager. In this case, pupils and teachers played a key role in his detention by reporting information about his behaviour to the police.
On Thursday, there was also a tragic attack in Leszczydole-Nowinach near Wyszków.
A 15-year-old former student attacked a caretaker, the principal and a teacher with a sharp tool, likely a knife. The 37-year-old school employee succumbed to their wounds while two other victims were injured.
Authorities have decided that primary schools in the Wyszków municipality will not hold classes on Friday as a result of the attacks and further safety-related concerns.
The institutions are however still expected to provide care for their pupils. Local media reported that on Friday all secondary schools in Ciechanów will operate remotely. In-person classes will also not take place in schools in the district of Pułtusk.