Polish Rail Sabotage Sparks Investigation and Concerns

The news in Polish

1. akt  (m.)
   oficjalne działanie lub decyzja o znaczeniu prawnym lub symbolicznym ↩︎
2. sabotaż  (m.)
   celowe działanie mające na celu zakłócenie lub zniszczenie czegoś ↩︎
3. zaniepokojenie  (n.)
   stan niepokoju lub obawy o coś ↩︎
4. urządzenie  (n.)
   przedmiot lub maszyna pełniąca określoną funkcję ↩︎
5. ekstradycja  (f.)
   wydanie osoby podejrzanej lub skazanej za przestępstwo państwu, gdzie ma być sądzona lub odbyć karę ↩︎
6. infrastruktura  (f.)
   podstawowe urządzenia i systemy potrzebne do funkcjonowania społeczeństwa, takie jak drogi, sieci elektryczne ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Who confirmed the suspects’ cooperation with Russians?

Question 2: What is the government doing in response to the sabotage?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
akt  (m.)	act
sabotaż  (m.)	sabotage
zaniepokojenie  (n.)	concern
urządzenie  (n.)	device
ekstradycja  (f.)	extradition
infrastruktura  (f.)	infrastructure

Read the full story

Recent acts of sabotage on Polish railways have prompted serious concern among government officials and security agencies. The incidents, which involved intentional damage to railway infrastructure, occurred on a line between Warsaw and Lublin, prompting urgent investigations into the causes and potential influences behind these unprecedented events.

On the morning of November 18, a crucial alert was raised when a train carrying 475 passengers was forced to stop near Życzyn in the Garwolin district due to a deliberately damaged track. In another occurrence, a similar disruption was noted in the vicinity. The investigations revealed that a metal device that appeared incongruous with the usual rail infrastructure had been tampered with, halting a train connecting Świnoujście and Rzeszów. Additionally, a second explosive device, which did not detonate, was found nearby.

According to Marek Biernacki, a former Interior Minister, there is a prevailing belief that Russian intelligence services are orchestrating these disruptions as part of a broader campaign within Europe. He highlighted the timing as significant, occurring when Poland was contemplating opening border crossings with Belarus. Similar sentiments were echoed by General Roman Polko, who underscored the need for a strategic pivot from defensive measures to proactive deterrence to prevent further exploitation by Russia.

Recent findings reveal that meticulous police work led to the identification of two Ukrainian nationals as the primary suspects behind these acts. The breakthrough came when investigators traced a SIM card left at the scene, enabling them to track the movements and connections of the individuals involved. Both suspects, reportedly linked with prior incidents of sabotage, fled to Belarus following their actions.

In a public statement, Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that the suspects were acting in cahoots with Russian operatives, aiming to create a significant railway disaster. He stressed that Poland would use all diplomatic and legal avenues to seek their extradition for prosecution. Meanwhile, Polish authorities are liaising with international counterparts to ensure comprehensive security measures are enforced.

Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak assured the public that enhancements to railway communication systems would be expedited, including the encryption of the radio-stop signal to prevent unauthorized access and control. He emphasized the strategic importance of preventing incidents like these from undermining passenger safety and confidence in Polish rail systems.

The gravity of the situation has witnessed the government implement heightened security protocols, with a new third-level alert in place on certain railway lines. As investigations proceed, Polish authorities remain resolute in addressing this threat and safeguarding national infrastructure.

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