Following a series of bomb threats and harassment allegations against TV Republika, police intervened at the home of editor-in-chief Tomasz Sakiewicz in response to a falsified report of an immediate life-threatening emergency.
Police Response to Emergency Alerts
On Friday, police officers entered the residence of TV Republika editor-in-chief Tomasz Sakiewicz and handcuffed his assistant. The Metropolitan Police Headquarters later clarified that the intervention was triggered by an online tip, routed through the Ombudsman for Children, which claimed a person at the address required immediate assistance.
Authorities confirmed that the report was false and intended to mislead emergency services. The woman present at the scene was handcuffed after refusing to identify herself or cooperate with officers, though no one was ultimately detained.
TV Republika Claims Harassment
TV Republika representatives, including program director Michał Rachoń and Tomasz Sakiewicz, reported that the station and its staff have been the targets of numerous hoax notifications over the past 48 hours, including bomb threats and false claims of suicides. They described the situation as a well-organized operation involving the leak of confidential personal data.
Jarosław Olechowski accused state services of conducting an intimidation campaign against journalists and their families. He suggested the actions were politically motivated attempts to undermine the station’s independence.
Government Rejects Allegations of Politicized Action
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz denied any state-led campaign against the media. Kierwiński emphasized that services are legally obligated to investigate all reports of threats to life or safety, regardless of the target.
The Metropolitan Police reiterated that their duty is to verify every signal that could impact public safety. They warned that the authors of these hoax reports aim to disrupt institutions, sow social anxiety, and create a false sense of danger, and urged the media to handle information responsibly.
