Kraków attack raises fears of extremism and Russian interference

A knifeman was arrested at protests outside Poland’s Constitutional Court on 31 October, after three school stabbings in four days earlier that month. In September, police foiled a far-right plot to bomb a mosque. The commentator argues that these incidents, alongside extremist online content and political hate speech, may point to a wider social problem and increase the risk of further “lone wolf” attacks.

A Ukrainian friend and former intelligence officer said attacks were bound to happen if radical sentiment continued to be fuelled in society. He pointed to hate speech on X and rhetoric from Poland’s right-wing and far-right parties, PiS, KKP and KWiN.

Some Polish friends suspected Russia might have groomed or activated the Kraków attacker, or others, as part of its campaign of terrorism and hybrid warfare against Europe. One Polish friend and official said the incidents were increasing and might be connected, while acknowledging he had no evidence. Another friend also suspected Russian involvement. A former Russian intelligence officer told the commentator on Sunday, 8 November: “This is just the beginning. There will be more such incidents.”

The commentator cautions against automatically blaming Russia for every train crash, riot or political murder in Europe, while arguing that Moscow exploits such events to cause harm.