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Poland stabbing attack: Knifeman kills one and injures seven at shopping centre

Shoppers detain attacker until police arrive

Monika Scislowska
Friday 20 October 2017 17:49 BST
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Emergency services transport a victim to an ambulance following the attack in Stalowa Wola, Poland
Emergency services transport a victim to an ambulance following the attack in Stalowa Wola, Poland

A knifeman has killed one person and injured seven others during an attack at a shopping centre in southeastern Poland.

Shoppers detained the attacker until police could arrive during the incident on Friday afternoon.

The attack took place at the VIVO! shopping centre in the town of Stalowa Wola, according to Andrzej Wierszyna, a spokesman for the town's police.

The alleged attacker was a 27-year-old Polish resident of the town, he told The Associated Press.

His weapon was a knife, and a 50-year-old woman who was attacked died later in the hospital, Anna Klee, the regional police spokeswoman in Rzeszow, was quoted as saying.

"He was attacking people from behind, hitting them with the knife," Klee said.

She said shoppers apprehended the attacker and handed him over to police when they arrived.

Eight people in all were taken to hospitals in Stalowa Wola, Tarnobrzeg and Sandomierz, most with serious wounds, Wierszyna said.

National Police spokesman Mariusz Ciarka said the man "acted irrationally" but added that authorities "could not explain the motives for his actions".

A breathalyser test showed that he was sober and blood tests are being done to check whether he was under the influence of any other substances, Mr Ciarka said.

AP

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