Two priests have died in the wake of a knife attack at a Benedictine convent in south-eastern Poland
According to Polish Catholic outlet Polonia Christiana, a 31-year-old Ukrainian stabbed five people, including three priests and two members of the laity, a man and a woman, at the monastic foundation in Jarosław [pronounced ‘Yar-o-swaf’] this morning.
“Today around 9:30 AM [local time], police received a call that, on the premises of the Jarosław monastery, which is on Benedictine Street in Jarosław, a Ukrainian citizen had attacked a man with a knife,” said Anna Długosz from the district police headquarters.
Polonia Christiana reports that all the wounded were taken to the hospital. It states that one priest has died, but more recent news asserts that a second has succumbed to his wounds. The third priest is said to be in critical condition.
Donald Tusk, the current prime minister of Poland, has confirmed that the killer is Ukrainian and in the hands of the Polish police.
“He will be punished to the full extent of the Polish law,” he wrote. “I join with the loved ones of the victims of this brutal attack in their suffering.”
Morderca z Jarosławia jest w rękach Polskiej Policji. Trwają czynności. Sprawca to obywatel Ukrainy. Będzie ukarany z całą surowością polskiego prawa. Łączę się w bólu z bliskimi ofiar tego brutalnego ataku.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) September 24, 2026
The murders follow increasing tension in Poland regarding the presence of the millions of Ukrainians who fled there from the nearby war with Russia. Jarosław is located about 25 miles from the Ukrainian border.
A motive for the attack has not yet been revealed.