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2016 Wrocław attack

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2016 Wrocław attack
Part of Terrorism in Europe
LocationWrocław, Poland
DateMay 19, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-05-19)
1:43 p.m. (CET)
TargetCivilians
Attack type
Extortion-based terrorism,
Deaths0
Injured1 innocent bystander
PerpetratorPaweł R.
No. of participants
1
ConvictedPaweł R.

The 2016 Wrocław attack occurred at 2 p.m. on 19 May 2016. The perpetrator Paweł R. left a bag inside which was a home-made bomb-like device on a bus stopping at Ulica Tadeusza Kościuszki we Wrocławiu, causing injury to one person. A couple of days later, the 22-year-old chemistry student Paweł R. was arrested suspected of attempting the bomb attack. During his trial, the man claimed that his intent was to warn and not to harm anyone.[1][2][3]

Attack[edit]

On May 19th 2016, the suspected perpetrator called the emergency services and played a pre-recorded audio with a synthesised voice that four bombs have been planted across the city of Wrocław. He demanded to be given 120 kg of golden bars. If they did not comply, the city would be turned into "Second Brussels" - the perpetrator said.[4]

Around 1:30 p.m. (CET) a man fully clothed would enter a bus belonging to the line 145. After a couple of minutes, the bus would stop next to the Wrocław Główny railway station, on which the perpetrator would exit, leaving the bag (with the package inside) on board right next to a baby stroller. Quickly, the worried owner of the said stroller would give the bag to the bus driver. While on the red light, the driver would look inside the bag, seeing the package containing a pot with a peice of plasticine. Unable to contact the administration, he would stop right next to the bus stop located on the Ulica Tadeusza Kościuszki. The driver brought the device right outside the bus, putting it on the sidewalk. Not long after, at 1:43 p.m. (CET), the bomb would explode, injuring an innocent bystander. The peices of the bomb had hit the person on their hand and legs. It was estimated that 41 people were on the bus at the time of the attack.[4][5][6][7][8]

The perpetrator used a home-made pressure cooker bomb, very simmilar to the one used in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. The bomb was made out a around 3-liter pressure cooker, filled with explosive substance, a home-made fuze (alarm clock, battery, wires and a broken/shattered christmas lightbulb). The substance used was simmilar to gunpowder, however slightly modified, causing for it to not explode properly.[8]

Aftermath[edit]

After the attack, Polish police would dispatch more than 400 officers, release a facial composite of the perpetrator and the footage from the bus cameras. [9]

After an intense investigation, the police would find that the 22 year old Paweł R., a student of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology was responsible for the attack. He was studying his third year however as reported by his classmates and teachers, he wasn't seen for a couple of months before the attack took place. The arrest would take place on 24th of may 2016 when Polish Anti-Terrorist Forces breached his house in Szprotawa. While he did not expect this to happened, Paweł R. complied with the authorities in his arrest. During his first interrogation, he pleaded guilty but refused to give any explanations on the event.[9][10][11]

On 20th of march 2017, his hearing (in court) would begin. Paweł R. would be accused of extortion, attempted mass murder and terrorism. In november of the same year, he would be sentenced with 20 years in prison, however that would be shortened in april of 2018 by 5 years after a appeal to the court made by his parents and his psychiatrist.[12][4][3][13][14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Polish police arrest suspected bus bomb-maker". www.thesundaily.my. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  2. ^ "Polish man admits to planting the device on bus". Radio Poland. Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  3. ^ a b "Zamach bombowy we Wrocławiu - Społeczeństwo - Newsweek.pl". web.archive.org. 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  4. ^ a b c "Student chemii oskarżony o terroryzm. Zostawił bombę w autobusie". web.archive.org. 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  5. ^ "Kierowca autobusu, w którym przewożono bombę o zdarzeniu". web.archive.org. 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  6. ^ "Wrocław: moment wybuchu na nagraniu z monitoringu sklepowego". web.archive.org. 2018-12-17. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  7. ^ "Zamach we Wrocławiu (2016)", Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia (in Polish), 2024-05-09, retrieved 2024-06-24
  8. ^ a b "Zamach bombowy we Wrocławiu - Społeczeństwo - Newsweek.pl". web.archive.org. 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  9. ^ a b "Bomber z Wrocławia skazany. Ma spędzić w więzieniu 20 lat - WP Wiadomości". web.archive.org. 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  10. ^ "Bomber z Wrocławia zatrzymany". web.archive.org. 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  11. ^ "Zamachowiec z Wrocławia wpadł w Szprotawie - gazetalubuska.pl". web.archive.org. 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  12. ^ "Proces bombera. "W autobusie mogła powstać kula ognia" - Gazetawroclawska.pl". web.archive.org. 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  13. ^ "Sąd zadecydował. Łagodniejszy wyrok dla wrocławskiego bombera". web.archive.org. 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  14. ^ "Bomber z Wrocławia: wyrok w sprawie Pawła R." web.archive.org. 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2024-06-24.