Arson at Warsaw’s Marywilska 44 Linked to Russian Agents

The news in Polish

1. pożar  (m.)
   Niebezpieczne zjawisko polegające na niekontrolowanym spalaniu się materiałów. ↩︎
2. zamach  (m.)
   Działanie mające na celu zaszkodzenie lub zniszczenie czegoś. ↩︎
3. zorganizowany
   Zaplanowany i przeprowadzony w sposób uporządkowany. ↩︎
4. służba  (f.)
   Grupa osób pełniących określone zadania w ramach jakiejś instytucji, szczególnie o charakterze publicznym. ↩︎
5. dochodzenie  (n.)
   Proces badania i zbierania informacji na temat jakiegoś zdarzenia. ↩︎
6. strata  (f.)
   Utrata czegoś cennego, np. wartości materialnej lub zdrowia. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: How long did the investigation of the arson last?

Question 2: Which country is cooperating with Poland regarding the sabotage event?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
pożar  (m.)	fire
zamach  (m.)	attack
zorganizowany	organised
służba  (f.)	service
dochodzenie  (n.)	investigation
strata  (f.)	loss

Read the full story

A devastating fire at the Marywilska 44 shopping centre in Warsaw last May has been confirmed as arson orchestrated on behalf of Russian intelligence services, according to a joint statement by Poland’s Minister of Justice, Adam Bodnar, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Tomasz Siemoniak. The ministers disclosed that concerted efforts to investigate the incident have involved multiple law enforcement and security agencies, revealing that the blaze was not an accident but a deliberate attack.

The destruction, which occurred on the night of May 12, 2024, consumed around 1,400 business stalls, primarily retailing clothing. While the fire caused no fatalities or injuries, it inflicted significant financial losses on countless traders. Polish authorities have now concluded their extensive examination of the site, a process involving 55 prosecutors, 100 police officers, and a host of expert analysts over 121 days, resulting in more than 70 witness statements and impacts on over 530 victims.

This operation, as outlined in the ministers’ communiqué, was reportedly executed under the guidance of an identified individual situated in the Russian Federation, with several perpetrators already in custody. Efforts continue to track down the remaining individuals involved. Premier Donald Tusk has asserted the Polish government’s commitment to capturing those responsible for what he described as “deplorable acts of sabotage.” He emphasized, “We will apprehend all of them!” reflecting a unified governmental resolve to respond firmly to these events.

The investigation remains ongoing under the auspices of Polish national security bodies, alongside collaborative engagements with Lithuanian authorities, given related activities possibly spanning into Lithuania. The cooperative framework exemplifies a broader regional security concern that transcends national boundaries, seeking to address and mitigate external destabilizing efforts.

The Polish government, acknowledging the significant roles of its investigative teams, reiterated its gratitude to the public officials engaged in this comprehensive inquiry. Their commitment has been crucial to “detecting, combating, and preventing” externally-directed acts of sabotage, an acknowledgement reflecting the broader tensions between Poland and Russia amidst a challenging geopolitical climate.

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