Polish Ex-Health Minister Assault Sparks Outrage

The news in Polish

1. zaatakować
   zaatakować oznacza zaatakować kogoś lub coś, podjąć działania agresywne. ↩︎
2. podejrzany
   podejrzany oznacza kogoś, kto wzbudza podejrzenia; osoba podejrzana o popełnienie czynu zabronionego. ↩︎
3. potępić
   potępić oznacza mocno skrytykować coś albo kogoś za jego działania czy postępowanie. ↩︎
4. przypominać
   przypominać oznacza przywołać coś w pamięci albo zwrócić na coś uwagę. ↩︎
5. tragedia  (f.)
   tragedia to wydarzenie wywołujące wielkie emocje, najczęściej negatywne, jak żal czy smutek. ↩︎
6. prokuratura  (f.)
   prokuratura to instytucja zajmująca się prowadzeniem postępowań przygotowawczych w sprawach karnych. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Who was attacked according to the summary?

Question 2: What did the suspects blame for their actions?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
zaatakować	attack
podejrzany	suspicious
potępić	condemn
przypominać	remind
tragedia  (f.)	tragedy
prokuratura  (f.)	prosecutor's office

Read the full story

A recent attack on Adam Niedzielski, the former Minister of Health in Poland, has stirred significant attention across the nation. The incident has highlighted concerns over politically motivated violence in the country. Prosecutors are requesting a temporary detention for two men, alleged to have assaulted Niedzielski due to his political affiliation.

On Friday, the local prosecutor’s office in Siedlce held a press conference to address the attack that occurred earlier in the week. According to Prosecutor Krystyna Gołąbek, the suspects confessed to the crime but cited an impaired memory of the event due to alcohol consumption. They are accused of assaulting Niedzielski, resulting in a direct threat to his health and life, by striking and kicking him.

Significantly, the prosecutor’s findings suggest the attack was driven by the ex-minister’s political background, emphasizing that the perpetrators confirmed Niedzielski’s identity before carrying out the assault. Gołąbek remarked that Niedzielski “was not a random victim,” underscoring a deliberate action related to his political ties.

Prosecutor Krzysztof Czyżewski vehemently condemned the violence, highlighting the brazenness of attacking a public figure in broad daylight. He drew parallels to the tragic murder of Gdańsk’s Mayor Paweł Adamowicz, stressing a zero-tolerance policy for politically motivated violence.

The two assailants have been identified as having around two pro mille of alcohol in their systems at the time of their surrender to police. Despite their lack of criminal history, they could face prison sentences ranging from three months to five years. Currently, as per the court’s decision, they have been remanded in custody for two months while further investigations continue.

This incident calls attention to the ongoing political tensions in Poland, as authorities emphasize that political affiliation should never justify acts of physical aggression or intimidation. As the investigation unfolds, public officials and society at large echo calls for greater protection against politically charged violence.

Info: “Polish Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Polish”, a language school dedicated to those who wish to learn to speak Polish. We offer various types of online Polish courses tailored to different learning needs and levels.