Poland says police received information on possible plot against Tusk and defence minister

Polish authorities said on Sunday, 11 October 2026, that police had received information about a possible attack on Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. Several outlets described it as a possible assassination attempt. Kosiniak-Kamysz is also deputy prime minister.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Karolina Galecka announced the information. The South China Morning Post quoted her as saying the "report about a potential assassination attempt on Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as well as on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, was transmitted to the police via the State Protection Service (SOP)". The Guardian separately reported that Jacek Dobrzyński said the information first reached the state protection service, which passed it to the police.

The Interior Ministry ordered authorities to act on the information. Galecka announced this on social media. Al Jazeera quoted her post as referring to "action to be taken in this matter".

Representatives of the police, the security services, including the SOP, and the Interior Ministry held an emergency meeting on Sunday. According to DW, it took place at the Counter-Terrorism Center of the Internal Security Agency (ABW).

After the meeting, Dobrzyński, a spokesperson for the minister overseeing Poland's special services, said authorities were treating the information seriously. "We take this matter extremely seriously," he said, according to The Guardian. Polsat News quoted him as saying further action was decided at the meeting, without giving details, according to Al Jazeera.

Radio Zet reported that police had received the information by email, according to Al Jazeera. Other reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not corroborate this.

Government spokesperson Adam Szłapka said Tusk learned of the threat first thing on Sunday morning, according to The Guardian. At the time of Al Jazeera's report, Tusk and Kosiniak-Kamysz had not commented on the reported plot.

The information comes as Poland is on high alert. Three attacks took place at schools in Mazovia province within four days this week. At least one person was killed and others, including children, were injured. According to DW, police detained 117 people nationwide over weapons or threats against schools and checked 64,000 schools.

What is disputed

Most outlets reported that the emergency meeting took place on Sunday. The Hindu said it was scheduled for 11 am (0900 GMT) on "Saturday (October 11, 2026)". That date was a Sunday, so the reference appears to be an error.

What each side says

• Dobrzyński said authorities consider there was a high probability the threats would have been carried out. He said Polish services receive a growing number of threats every month, according to The Guardian.
• Szłapka called the threat "exceptionally concerning", according to The Guardian.
• On the school attacks, DW quoted Tusk as saying: "We are not dealing with any group organized on a big scale." He also said "some of the people detained are active in the ultraright environment".

What remains unclear

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe the nature or origin of the threat, or who is suspected. They do not say whether anyone has been detained. They do not establish any link between the alleged plot and the school attacks.

Analysis

The case tests how Polish security institutions communicate about threats against senior officials. Officials have described the information as serious and highly probable, but the reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not explain the basis for that assessment. Several scenarios remain open: investigators could identify suspects, the threat could prove less concrete than first assessed, or details could stay confidential for security reasons. The timing, after a week of school attacks, may increase public concern. No report establishes a connection between these events, and readers should treat them as separate unless evidence emerges. Further official statements would clarify the scope of the threat.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.