On Thursday, 20 November, a man barricaded himself and his mother in a Sanok apartment, forcing police to discharge firearms after an armed attack.
Police Intervention in Sanok
On Thursday, 20 November, the Rzeszów Provincial Police Command reported that a man had barricaded himself and his mother in an apartment at the Wójtostwo housing estate in Sanok, Podkarpackie Province. Hearing a gas detector alarm, officers suspected the suspect had deliberately activated the gas by unscrewing the vents. With assistance from the fire brigade, they entered the building and were then attacked by an armed, aggressive man.
Video of the Attack Surfaces Online
A witness filmed the entire incident and released the footage online. The video shows an ambulance parked by the stairwell entrance, with police and firefighters attempting to open the building’s door. The gunman, apparently wielding a machete, fired at the officers. After being shot, he fled toward the entrance, shouting “Enemy! He’s been shot.” Officers then removed the wounded man, performed resuscitation, but he later died. The graphic nature of the footage prevented its public release.
Police Use of Lethal Firearms
Commissioner Piotr Wojtunik, spokesperson for the Rzeszów Provincial Police Command, told TVP Info that officers had to use firearms. He explained that the suspect tried to disarm a police officer with a sword or machete. The case is being investigated by police and prosecutors. Officers from the investigative‑criminal unit, the forensic laboratory, and a prosecutor were summoned to the scene. Two police officers and a firefighter were hospitalized; their lives are not at risk.