Series of knife attacks at educational institutions across Poland

In a span of four days between October 7 and October 10, 2026, Poland experienced three separate knife attacks at educational facilities. The first occurred on October 7 at a vocational school in Ostrołęka, where a 19-year-old student injured nine people, including five students and two teachers. On October 8, a 15-year-old former student attacked a primary school in Leszczydół-Nowiny, resulting in the death of a 37-year-old school employee and injuries to two others. Finally, on October 10, a 21-year-old student at a college in Warsaw injured three people with a dangerous weapon.

The incidents sparked widespread alarm, leading to police deploying forces to approximately 50,000 facilities nationwide to restore order and address online rumors regarding further planned violence. While social media speculation suggested a coordinated "Bloody Friday" challenge, authorities found no evidence of a organized conspiracy. Instead, police identified several youths attempting to circulate copycat threats, leading to multiple arrests, including a 16-year-old in Szczytno who claimed his threats were a prank. Investigations into the motives of the attackers are ongoing, with juvenile courts handling cases involving minors while security remains heightened across Polish schools.