A 19-year-old man attacked patients and medical staff with a knife at a hospital in Jastrzębie-Zdrój, southern Poland, on Thursday, injuring four people, including a doctor, authorities said.
The attack occurred at the Provincial Specialist Hospital in Jastrzębie-Zdrój shortly after 6 p.m. Police said officers responded to reports of an aggressive man who had attacked patients and hospital staff with a sharp object and arrested the suspect at the scene.
Hospital spokeswoman Marcelina Twardowska said the victims were a doctor, a nurse and two female patients.
Artur Ploch, head of the hospital’s surgery department, said the doctor and the two patients suffered stab wounds to the chest, with one also sustaining injuries to the neck. He described their condition as serious but stable.
Hospital director Robert Ostrowski said the injured doctor restrained the attacker and held him until emergency services arrived.
"He showed a heroic act," Ostrowski said.
Police identified the suspect as a 19-year-old Polish man from Jastrzębie-Zdrój.
In a statement, the health ministry said that saving the lives of those injured remained the top priority.
The ministry added that it was "monitoring the situation closely" and was "ready to provide all necessary support."
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP