Poland Probes Reports of Possible Plot to Assassinate PM Tusk and Defence Minister

Polish security services began checking information on Sunday, 11 October, about a possible plot to assassinate Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. The threat was judged serious enough to convene an emergency meeting of security bodies. If the information proves credible, it could lead to extra protection for the country's top officials.

Emergency meeting

Karolina Gałecka, a spokeswoman for Poland's Interior Ministry, said that after the police received the information, Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński and Tomasz Siemoniak, the minister responsible for coordinating the special services, ordered an immediate assessment of the threat. At 11:00, representatives of the police, special services and the state protection service met at the Counter-Terrorism Centre of the Internal Security Agency. They are evaluating the threat and deciding which security measures are needed.

Government spokesman Adam Szłapka told broadcaster TVN24 that Tusk was informed of the possible danger at around 7:00 on Sunday morning. According to him, this warning was more alarming than previous ones. The services are now verifying whether the information is credible.

Earlier threats

The prime minister has been threatened before. In September, police detained two men who had threatened Tusk online: one posted a video with threats on social media, and the other made death threats. It is not known whether those cases are linked to Sunday's events.

For now, the authorities have not disclosed where the information came from, who might be behind a plot, or whether any specific suspects have been identified. It has also not been confirmed that any attack attempt took place.