Polish officials confirm that two men suspected of attacking former Health Minister Adam Niedzielski have been detained and are now under investigation after regaining consciousness following the incident.
Perpetrators Regaining Consciousness
“We knew that in this case, we should have quickly apprehended the suspects. The location was monitored, so there is documentation on the event, and I thank the Siedlce police officers for their effective action. Actions with these individuals were carried out, as they were regaining consciousness after being in the restaurant, and today they will be processed. Full information on this matter will be provided by the police,” said Czesław Mroczek, deputy minister of the Interior and Administration, in an interview with the “Tłit” program on Wp.pl on Thursday morning. “Actions could not be conducted with them yesterday due to their condition. These actions will be carried out very quickly today,” he added. The suspects, aged 35 and 39, were detained after arriving at the Siedlce police station at around 9:30 PM on Wednesday. The men were under the influence of alcohol (exceeding 2.0 per mille) and were taken to the police detention cell.
Protection Assignment for Niedzielski
Niedzielski, as a former minister, had been assigned state protection by legal regulation, which covers the president, prime minister, and other high-ranking officials. However, his protection was revoked in August 2023, even though the legal entitlement extended until the end of December 2023. “Niedzielski could have requested protection from the police. Any citizen may apply for such protection if their life or health is at risk due to public threats,” explained Czesław Mroczek, emphasizing that the decision to revoke protection was made by the regional police commander.
Attack Details and Niedzielski’s Statement
The former Health Minister of the PiS government was attacked in Siedlce on Wednesday afternoon and hospitalized. The assailants, who shouted “death to traitors of the homeland,” struck him in the face and kicked him while he lay on the ground. “I am all battered and sore, but I want to reassure you that no internal injuries were detected. I would like to thank the doctors at Siedlce Regional Hospital for their assistance and support,” Niedzielski wrote on social media. He also stated that the attack was a consequence of tolerating hate speech and the revocation of his protection by Minister Kierwiński, despite repeated public threats against him.
Source: Gazeta, -, –
