News website Gazeta.pl reported that on Friday, Nov. 14, butyric acid was poured for the fourth time outside the Abotak clinic on Wiejska Street, forcing a response by firefighters and a specialist clean-up crew.
The substance produces an intense, hard-to-remove smell and can be hazardous to health, with fumes that may irritate mucous membranes and cause dizziness, coughing and vomiting, the report said.
Since the Abotak clinic opened in March 2025, it has been a regular target of intense anti-abortion protests, with demonstrators using banners, loudspeakers, graphic posters, strobe lights and provocative slogans, and at times blocking the entrance. Local residents have complained of noise and a constant atmosphere of tension, while previous police responses were seen as ineffective.
Until now, none of the attacks had led to any arrests. This time, a security guard from a nearby venue helped detain two men, leading to the first criminal charges in connection with the incidents. According to Gazeta.pl, the older suspect faces charges of property damage, while his son is accused of aiding the attack.
Gazeta.pl journalist Marta Nowak reported that the detainees are a father, an active participant in actions by the anti-abortion foundation Życie i Rodzina (Life and Family), and his 18-year-old son, a high school student. They allegedly arrived by car, left their mobile phones inside and communicated via walkie-talkies.
Both are represented by a lawyer known for handling cases linked to conservative circles, the report said.
Staff at the Abotak clinic say that despite its location near the Polish parliament (Sejm) and the Presidential Chancellery, the attacks have not stopped and their sense of security is only illusory. The case has triggered wider controversy and renewed debate about the protection of medical facilities and women's rights in Poland.
(jh)
Source: RMF24, Gazeta.pl