Nine charges filed in Poland against suspect in plot to assassinate Tusk

In Poland, the prosecutor's office has filed nine charges against a 66-year-old man detained on suspicion of plotting the assassination of Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. During a search of the suspect's apartment, law enforcement officers discovered objects preliminarily identified as improvised explosive devices.

This was reported on Tuesday, October 13, by the spokesman for the District Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw, Piotr Antoni Skiba, according to the Polish outlet Wirtualna Polska.

The suspect is 66-year-old Krzysztof N., a resident of Wrocław. According to the investigation, the man intended to violently change the state authorities in Poland and was preparing an attack on government representatives.

The most serious charge concerns preparation for the violent overthrow of a constitutional body of state authority using explosive substances. For this crime, Polish law provides for a penalty of two to fifteen years' imprisonment.

"The most serious charge concerns planning the violent overthrow of state authorities, including the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, using explosive materials that the man was collecting," — stated prosecutor Skiba.

During the search of the suspect's residence, investigators found about ten objects that could be improvised explosive devices. According to a preliminary assessment by specialists, some of them resemble fragmentation grenades.

The prosecutor's office emphasized that final conclusions about the design and characteristics of the discovered objects will be made after additional expert examinations.

In addition, law enforcement officers seized objects resembling weapons. They were preliminarily classified as signal or pneumatic weapons.

Other charges relate to the suspect's activities on the internet. According to the investigation, the man posted videos calling for the violent change of power and the use of force to achieve political goals.

Among the charges are also propaganda of aggressive war, including Russian aggression against Ukraine, and incitement to commit crimes on national, ethnic, racial and political grounds.

According to the prosecutor's office representative, the suspect spread radical views and tried to unite like-minded people who support violent regime change.

During interrogation, Krzysztof N. pleaded not guilty to all charges and refused to testify.

A court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, October 14, to consider the application of a preventive measure in the form of pre-trial detention for the suspect.

As a reminder, Polish authorities reported on October 11 about the possible preparation of an assassination attempt on Donald Tusk and Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. Information about the threat was received by the State Protection Service from an informant who provided data on the suspect's alleged intentions.

After receiving the warning, an emergency meeting was held with representatives of the police, the State Protection Service, and Poland's Internal Security Agency.

On the same day, law enforcement officers detained the suspect in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. On Monday, October 12, he was brought to Warsaw for investigative actions.

Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński previously stated that the detainee allegedly maintained contacts with radical groups via the internet.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz thanked law enforcement agencies for their swift response to the received threat information.

The investigation is ongoing. The suspect's actions will be given a final legal assessment by the court.

Based on materials from: Wirtualna Polska, Gazeta.pl, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.