On December 21, 2025, Warsaw police ended a standoff when they arrested a 36‑year‑old Ukrainian who had taken a 9‑year‑old boy from his former partner’s apartment, securing the child’s safety.
Incident Summary
In the early afternoon of December 21, 2025, authorities began searching for a man suspected of abducting a 9‑year‑old boy from the apartment shared with the child’s mother in Warsaw.
The boy was reportedly taken against the mother’s protest, with the suspect taking him to the Białołęka district.
Standoff at Białołęka Property
The suspect barricaded himself with the child on a property at the intersection of Trakt Nadwiślański and Obrazkowa streets, threatening to harm the boy if police intervened.
He was believed to be armed with a sharp weapon, most likely a knife.
Negotiations and Arrest
Police negotiators spent several hours attempting to secure the boy’s release, while the Independent Counter‑Terrorism Subdivision circled the site and directed traffic.
Eventually, a decision for a forceful entry was taken; the suspect was arrested, and the child was removed safely.
Aftermath and Medical Care
The boy was transferred to a Warsaw hospital for medical assessment, while the suspect’s condition remains unknown.
Investigators noted that the suspect is not the boy’s father but the mother’s former partner. All parties involved are Ukrainian nationals.
