Jarosław Szymczyk made the remark in an interview with the Rzeczpospolita newspaper, published on Monday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The Polish police chief said in the interview that during a visit to Ukraine last week he had two key meetings. The first of these was with the head of Ukraine’s police force, Ihor Klymenko.
He told Rzeczpospolita: “At the end of the meeting, in line with tradition, we exchanged gifts. I gave General Klymenko a modest police gadget - a wallet, as well as a pen, a business card holder and a bottle of Polish alcohol.”
Szymczyk added: “For his part, General Klymenko presented me with a grenade launcher tube. He said the tube was used up, empty and safe and has been turned into a speaker that can be used through Bluetooth technology.”
Szymczyk told the Polish newspaper that he had also held talks with the head of Ukraine’s state emergency service, Gen. Serhiy Kruk.
At that meeting, the Polish top cop also received a "used-up grenade launcher tube" as a gift, reporters were told.
“We were given assurances that this was used-up equipment that didn’t contain explosives,” Szymczyk said, adding that "for the same reason, the tubes weren't reported" to border officials on the way back to Poland.
'A powerful explosion'
Szymczyk said that “a powerful explosion” occurred at his office at Poland's National Police Headquarters in Warsaw after he arrived for work on the morning of Wednesday, December 14, and attempted to move the used grenade launchers to a different part of the room.
“I was stunned,” he added.
Asked if he would resign from his role as Poland's police chief, Szymczyk said: “As of today I see no reason to resign.”
He added: “At the same time, I am aware that ultimately it’s for the interior minister and the prime minister to decide, and I will accept their decision.”
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, rp.pl