Polish authorities have accused Russian special services of setting fire to a shopping center in Warsaw.

The burnt-out shopping center Marywilska 44. Photo: Marcin Banaszkiewicz / FOTONEWS
полная версия на сайте

To the arson of the Marywilska 44 shopping center in According to the Polish authorities, Russian special services were involved in Warsaw on May 12, 2024. This is stated in a joint statement by Polish Justice Minister Adam Bodnar and Interior Minister Tomasz Semoniak, which was published on the government's website.

"Based on the collected evidence, we know that the fire was caused by arson ordered by the Russian special services," the statement said.

The ministers stressed that they have "in-depth knowledge of the order and course of arson," as well as how it was "documented" by criminals.

Some of the suspects have already been detained, the rest have been identified and are wanted, Bodnar and Semonyak said.

A large fire in the Marywilska 44 shopping center in Warsaw occurred on May 12, 2024. The fire started in several places at once and spread quickly, the fire service reported. The fire completely engulfed the building, it partially collapsed. Then no one was injured, but, according to the authorities, the premises of 1,400 shops and enterprises operating in the service sector burned down. Everything was burned down except for one ice cream stand. Marywilska 44 was the largest wholesale and retail trade center in Warsaw.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said after the fire that the authorities intend to investigate Russia's possible involvement in the incident.