Polish police arrested a quartet of 18‑20‑year‑olds in Olsztyn on September 24 for planning a terrorist attack, with evidence linking them to IED and bomb designs reminiscent of ISIS and Al‑Qaeda.
Arrests of Teens in Olsztyn
On Wednesday 24 September, officers of the Internal Security Agency detained a fourth suspect aged 18‑20, forming a quartet allegedly involved in a planned terrorist attack in the city of Olsztyn.
The suspects, all first‑time offenders and from non‑dysfunctional families, were apprehended following a preliminary investigation carried out by the Olsztyn District Prosecutor’s Office.
Investigation Findings
Evidence shows the suspects constructed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and a bomb filled with ANFO, capable of mass casualties at an explosion site.
Prosecutor Daniel Brodowski noted that the devices’ simplicity mirrors tactics used by ISIS and Al‑Qaeda.
Ideological Motives
No single ideology explains the group’s motives; investigators found a spectrum from extreme right‑wing, fascism, and Nazism to admiration of Islamic terrorists and even occult satanic overtones.
In all cases, the unifying factor is a desire to cause harm, chaos, and destruction.
Court Orders and Supervision
Two suspects have completed their pre‑trial detention; all others remain under judicial supervision, prohibited from contact with known suspects, from leaving the country, and from attending gatherings.
The court also forbids them from visiting public crowded places.
Earlier June Arrests by ABW
In mid‑June, the Internal Security Agency’s Olsztyn delegation detained a 19‑year‑old man implicated in a terrorist plot, after earlier apprehending two of his peers.
The officers noted the teens’ fascination with notorious global attacks and expressed that they ‘trained’ by studying the failures of previous perpetrators to improve their skills.
Prosecution Charges
Prosecutors charged the four arrested individuals with participation in training that could facilitate a terrorist act, and with independently accessing instructional materials that facilitate such crimes.
