Priest killed and four injured in knife attack at Polish Benedictine monastery

A 31-year-old Ukrainian man identified as Ihor M. killed a priest and wounded four other people this morning at the Benedictine monastery in Jarosław, in southeastern Poland. Two of the injured are priests and are in serious condition. The other two are laypeople. Local police confirmed that the attacker had been arrested.

The attack took place around 9:30 a.m., when police received a report of multiple stabbings on the abbey grounds. District spokeswoman Anna Długosz said the attacker used a knife. The priest who died has been identified as Father Stanisław Zbojnowicz.

The wounded were taken to the hospital. Early reports said two priests had died, but the Diocese of Rzeszów corrected the information: one priest was killed and two others are in critical condition. The diocese apologized for the initial confusion.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed the arrest and said the attacker would be tried with the full force of Polish law. On social media, Tusk expressed his solidarity with the families of the victims of the "brutal attack."

Jarosław lies about 40 kilometers from the border with Ukraine. The suspect reportedly entered Poland from Germany on the day of the attack. Poland is home to millions of Ukrainians displaced by the war with Russia.

According to the reconstruction of events, the attacker went into the monastery kitchen, took a knife and attacked a priest in the coffee area. He then went to the church, where the 10 a.m. Mass was being celebrated and several of the faithful were making their confessions.

Authorities have not disclosed any motive for the attack so far.