Investigation Confirms Assault on Ukrainian Teenagers in Bielsko-Biała Bus

Following a widely shared video of a passenger verbally abusing two Ukrainian girls on a city bus in Bielsko-Biała last Saturday, local authorities have apprehended the 54-year-old assailant.

The Incident and Arrest

On Saturday, July 11, a man targeted two 11-year-old girls from Ukraine on a public bus in Bielsko-Biała. The aggressor shouted insults, claiming the girls were “raised on our money,” and demanded they return to Ukraine using offensive language. The bus driver intervened and forced the man to leave the vehicle at the next stop.

The 54-year-old suspect was arrested on Monday. He is a driver for the Municipal Transport Company (MZK) who had been on sick leave. The District Prosecutor’s Office in Żywiec is investigating the incident as an act of national-origin-based insult. The man is expected to lose his job at MZK.

Gazeta Wyborcza reported that passengers had previously complained about the man’s behavior. MZK had intended to issue a reprimand, but the driver declared he was experiencing burnout and took sick leave.

Security Footage Analysis

In response to online rumors suggesting the teenagers provoked the attack, MZK officials reviewed the surveillance footage. The company noted that while one girl had placed her feet toward a seat, this did not interfere with other passengers. The footage shows the girls were mostly occupied with their phones.

The analysis indicates the man approached the girls and spoke to them, causing them to move. He then watched them for a significant period without any further interaction before suddenly becoming aggressive, using curses and shouting. MZK stated that there is no causal link between the girls’ behavior and the man’s sudden outburst, emphasizing that verbal aggression and discrimination are unjustifiable.

Government and Diplomatic Response

Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned the incident as “hideous,” linking it to the harmful effects of politicians and media “inciting and provoking people.” He acknowledged the underlying tensions between Poles and Ukrainians during the refugee crisis but stressed that public figures have a duty to mitigate such emotions.

Andrii Sybiha, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, expressed his gratitude on Monday to the Polish authorities for their swift response and the detention of the suspect.