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Probe after Catholic priest attacked in Poland's Szczecin

30.07.2019 12:00
Prosecutors are investigating after a Roman Catholic priest was attacked and injured in the northwestern Polish city of Szczecin, according to media reports.
Fr. Aleksander Ziejewski was attacked by three men shortly before an evening Mass at St. John the Baptists Basilica in Szczecin, northwestern Poland, on Sunday.
Fr. Aleksander Ziejewski was attacked by three men shortly before an evening Mass at St. John the Baptist's Basilica in Szczecin, northwestern Poland, on Sunday.Photo: PAP/Marcin Bielecki

The clergyman, Fr. Aleksander Ziejewski, suffered a facial injury as a result of the incident on Sunday, public broadcaster TVP Info has reported.

Three suspects were detained by police within an hour-and-a-half of the attack; they are aged from 27 to 53 and have a previous police record, according to TVP Info.

Justice Minister and Prosecutor General Zbigniew Ziobro has said in a tweet that “the investigation into Sunday’s attack on the priest and church workers at St. John the Baptist’s Basilica in Szczecin will be supervised by the National Public Prosecutor's Office.”  

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki condemned the attack in a Twitter post on Monday.

"There can be no consent to acts of aggression,” Morawiecki said.

He added that “the beating of the priest and an attempt to desecrate Holy Mass in Szczecin deserve special condemnation from all sides, regardless of political views.”

Last month, a Catholic priest was rushed to a hospital after being stabbed by a knifeman in the southwestern Polish city of Wrocław.

(gs)

Source: TVP Info