WARSAW, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Poland's authorities have begun to take precautionary measures to cope with the challenge of campus security and prevent youth violence, after two knife attacks at Polish schools within two days this week.
SECURITY RESPONSE
A 15-year-old former pupil attacked staff at a primary school in Leszczydol-Nowiny, northeast of Warsaw, on Thursday, leading to the death of a 37-year-old school employee. Two other staff members were injured. The incident came just one day after a 19-year-old student wounded nine people in an attack in Ostroleka, northeast Poland.
In response, Poland's police have taken urgent measures to guarantee campus security. Polish Minister of the Interior and Administration Marcin Kierwinski said on Friday that police officers had checked about 15,000 schools by noon, with around 24,000 police personnel involved. A total of 19 people had been detained following reports of threats and related incidents.
Police officers have entered schools after contacting the school management, rather than limiting their presence to surrounding streets.
Local authorities have also tightened access arrangements. In Jozefow, the authorities said schools had informed parents of additional security measures, including restrictions on entry to school premises.
COPYCAT CONCERNS AND ONLINE RISKS
Alongside physical protection, experts and officials have expressed concerns over copycat attacks while the Polish government sought stronger tools to address illegal online content.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Thursday warned of possible copycat attacks, saying the suspect in the fatal assault had worn a helmet with a camera to record the incident.
Municipal authorities in Legionowo, north of Warsaw, closed two primary schools on Friday following reports that they appeared on a list linked to an alleged online challenge. Although the reports had not been confirmed by security services, the authorities said they took precautionary measures to protect students.
In the southern region of Malopolska, police were investigating six students aged 12 to 16 over threats against schools and fellow pupils, as well as incidents involving knives brought to school, the Polish Press Agency reported on Friday.
Bartlomiej Pater, an internal security expert and former police officer at WSB Merito University, told Polish Radio that online exchanges could inspire dangerous behavior. Although security services monitor such activities, the volume of information and communication makes comprehensive oversight impossible, he said.
The Sejm, Poland's lower house of parliament, on Thursday passed legislation aimed at enabling authorities to block illegal online content.
According to Polish news portal Onet, work on the legislation has accelerated following the school attacks.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski argued that the authorities needed effective means to respond to dangerous online material. ■