Polish police have stepped up security across schools nationwide after two stabbing attacks involving teenagers within two days sparked widespread anxiety and online rumours of further violence dubbed “Bloody Friday”.
Thousands of police officers visited schools on Friday to reassure students, teachers and parents amid fears that additional attacks could occur following threats circulated on social media.
Authorities, however, said they had found no confirmed evidence linking the two attacks to a coordinated operation or an online challenge, urging the public to avoid spreading unverified information.
Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister, Krzysztof Gawkowski, said there was no confirmed indication that the incidents were connected or part of a wider plan to target schools.
By early evening, police officers had checked nearly 35,000 schools and detained 59 people, according to figures released by the police on social media.
“There will be no compromise here — the safety of youngsters is the most important thing,” Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said at a press conference.
Education Minister Barbara Nowacka disclosed that 59 schools had been closed, mainly in the Mazowsze region, where the two attacks occurred.
The nationwide police deployment and school closures highlighted the level of concern among authorities as they sought to prevent further violence and calm public anxiety.
The security measures followed two serious stabbing incidents at Polish schools on consecutive days.
On Thursday, a 15-year-old former pupil allegedly attacked a primary school in Leszczydol-Nowiny, northeast of Warsaw, killing a caretaker and injuring two teachers.
The teenager was reportedly wearing a camera mounted on a helmet during the incident.
The attack came a day after a separate incident at a school in Ostroleka, north of the Polish capital, where a 19-year-old wounded 10 people, including himself.
The two incidents have shocked a country where school attacks of this nature have been rare, while rumours circulating online have fuelled fears among parents, students and teachers.
The reports of a possible “Bloody Friday” attack prompted authorities to increase police presence at schools and investigate threats allegedly posted online.
Officials have not confirmed that the incidents were connected or that the alleged online challenge was responsible for the attacks.
Polish police made several arrests on Friday as investigations into online threats and potential acts of violence continued.
Among those detained was a 13-year-old in Warsaw who allegedly posted a photograph of a knife in a class group chat and threatened fellow students.
A 14-year-old was also detained on school grounds in Warsaw after reportedly being found with a knife and firecrackers.
In another case, two 15-year-olds from Pruszkow County, near the capital, were arrested after allegedly publishing a video containing threats to kill.
The incidents raised fresh concerns about the spread of threatening content among young people, particularly in the aftermath of serious acts of violence.
Police have continued monitoring reports of potential attacks while encouraging members of the public to report credible threats to the appropriate authorities.
The arrests formed part of a broader security response intended to identify individuals making threats and prevent further incidents.
The attacks and subsequent rumours have left many Polish families worried about the safety of children in schools.
Dorota Czekaj, a 59-year-old non-governmental organisation manager and mother of four, told Reuters that the events had left her “simply terrified”.
She called for a firm response to online content that could encourage violence.
The scale of the police deployment reflected the urgency of the situation, as authorities sought to reassure families that reports of possible attacks were being taken seriously.
However, officials also warned that unverified claims circulating online could intensify fear and complicate efforts to distinguish genuine threats from rumours.
The temporary closure of 59 schools, mainly in the Mazowsze region, added to the disruption caused by the incidents.
Polish officials have warned that misleading online information could worsen public anxiety following the school attacks.
Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz suggested that Russia could exploit the incidents to spread panic and deepen uncertainty.
Russia has repeatedly denied attempting to destabilise Western countries through online disinformation.
The warning came as investigators examined social media content reportedly connected to the Thursday attack.
Several social media accounts shared images of a TikTok account purportedly belonging to the 15-year-old suspect in the Leszczydol-Nowiny incident. The account reportedly contained images taken shortly before the attack.
Reuters said it was unable to locate the account, which appeared to have been taken down.
Poland’s Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime said it was aware of the content and that TikTok was cooperating with the agency.
TikTok did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Authorities have not publicly established that the account or the online rumours were responsible for the attacks.
The developments have placed school security and online threats at the centre of public concern in Poland.
The government’s response has involved increased police presence, investigations into threatening posts and temporary closures aimed at addressing immediate safety concerns.
Although officials have not confirmed that the two attacks were coordinated or linked to an online challenge, the incidents have demonstrated how quickly fear can spread when violent events are followed by unverified claims on social media.
Police are continuing to investigate the attacks and related threats as authorities work to protect students and staff.
Officials have urged the public to rely on verified information, report credible threats and avoid sharing rumours that could trigger unnecessary panic.
For Polish families, the immediate concern remains the safety of children as schools and law enforcement agencies work to restore confidence following the two attacks.
