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Funeral held for University of Warsaw employee brutally killed on campus

19.05.2025 12:45
A memorial service took place on Monday for a University of Warsaw employee who was violently killed on campus earlier this month.
A funeral service took place in Warsaw on Monday for a university employee who was brutally murdered by a student on campus earlier this month.
A funeral service took place in Warsaw on Monday for a university employee who was brutally murdered by a student on campus earlier this month.Photo: PAP/Szymon Pulcyn

The victim, a 53-year-old janitor and mother of three, was attacked with an axe on May 7 near the university's main auditorium by a 22-year-old third-year law student.

The suspect, originally from the northern city of Gdynia, decapitated the woman in broad daylight, according to media reports.

A 39-year-old university security guard was also injured during the attack. He was hospitalized and has since returned home, though he remains in rehabilitation, officials say.

The funeral began at 10 a.m. on Monday at the Church of Divine Providence in the Polish capital. At the request of the family, the ceremony was closed to the media.

The university declared a day of mourning following the tragedy and canceled all classes on May 8.

A book of condolence book was made available in the main hall of the university for students, staff and members of the public wishing to pay their respects.

Candles and flowers were placed on the University of Warsaw’s main campus on May 8 in memory of the victims of a brutal attack. The previous evening, a female university employee was killed and a male colleague injured in an axe assault near the Auditorium Maximum building (PAP/Radek Pietruszka) Candles and flowers were placed on the University of Warsaw’s main campus on May 8 in memory of the murdered woman. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

Polish President Andrzej Duda posthumously awarded the Golden Cross of Merit on the day of the funeral to the murdered woman. The honor recognized her contributions to the local community.

(mp/gs)

Source: IAR/PAP/X/@prezydentpl

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