Two temporary detainees in Lublin cut the bars of a cell window with an illegal broom, slipped onto the roof, and were stopped moments before reaching the guard belt, reports a prison official, who says the incident has led to internal blame games and an ongoing investigation.
Incident Overview
On Friday, October 24 at about 9 p.m., two men staying in a temporary detention centre in Lublin used an illegally possessed broom to tear the bars of a cell window. They squeezed through the opening, made it onto the roof, and were apprehended a moment before they could reach the restraint belt, a prison officer told Radio Zet.
Staff Responses & Internal Accusations
After the escape, the prison tried to conceal the details and staff began blaming each other for lapses in supervision. The attempted concealment was deemed too serious to go unnoticed, and staff shifted responsibility between themselves. The incident raises questions about how the broom entered the premises, as every entrant should undergo a thorough check and cells are under constant monitoring.
Official Statement from the Prison Service
Colonel Arleta Pęconek, spokesperson for the General Director of the Prison Service, confirmed the escape attempt took place on October 24. She said the microwave barrier was activated, an observer flagged the detainees, and the officers on duty brought in the prisoners. A team from the Central Prison Management is now investigating whether procedures were breached or if any officers were negligent.
Context of Past Escape Attempts
Attempted escapes from Polish prisons and investigative detention centres are rare; only nine have been recorded in the last five years, all ending in failure. The most recent high‑profile case also occurred in October 2024, when suspect Bartłomiej B. fled from a psychiatric hospital to which he had been transferred from a Zamość detention centre. That incident involved staff sleeping, using phones, and reporting the escape too late.
