An arson attack on a Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church took place in Legnica, Poland

In the city of Legnica (Poland), an unknown perpetrator carried out a series of arson attacks, one of which targeted the local Greek Catholic parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The incidents, which occurred on September 5, also damaged a transformer, causing power outages in the city.

According to the online publication Nasz Wybir, the fire did not spread to the church building itself, damaging only the fence and vegetation on the adjacent grounds. Eyewitnesses told police they had seen a suspicious man who fled the scene of one of the arson attacks on an electric scooter. Law enforcement agencies are currently conducting an investigation to identify the perpetrator.

Diplomats were particularly alarmed by the appearance of anti-Ukrainian graffiti near the site of the arson. The Consulate General of Ukraine in Wrocław has officially appealed to Polish law enforcement agencies, demanding a thorough investigation. The consulate emphasized the need to investigate the possibility of hate crimes motivated by national or religious grounds. Consul Diana Ivanova has already visited Legnica, inspected the scene of the incident, and met with police representatives and the parish priest.

“Any manifestations of violence, vandalism, and hostility toward Ukrainians, religious communities, or places of worship are unacceptable,” the Consulate General of Ukraine in Wrocław emphasized.