Knife Attack at Polish Abbey Leaves One Dead and Four Wounded

Panic swept through the grounds of a Benedictine abbey in southern Poland after a knife attack left one person dead and at least four others injured, according to local media reports.

Police said a 31-year-old Ukrainian citizen was detained following the incident at the Benedictine Abbey in Jaroslaw, confirming the arrest in a statement.

Authorities said the motive was not immediately clear.

Local media reported that the stabbing took place at a Benedictine Sisters monastery located on the abbey grounds.

Polish outlets have described the person who died as a priest, but police and prosecutors had not confirmed the victim’s identity.

All those injured were taken to hospital, police said, adding that three suffered serious wounds.

“We are aware that Father Stanisław has passed ⁠away and Father Marek is in ‌serious condition; there are other casualties, but we ⁠do ‌not have further details,” Sister Barbara Dendor told state broadcaster TVP Info.

She described a chaotic scene as word of the attack spread. “When I arrived, there ⁠was total panic; young people who ⁠had come out of the center witnessed it — they were saying, ‘some madman, some madman!'” she said.

Police said officers remained at the site as investigators worked to establish what happened.