Polish railway explosion an 'unprecedented act of sabotage,' prime minister says
LONDON -- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said an explosion on a strategic railway line connecting the capital Warsaw to the southeastern city of Lublin was "an unprecedented act of sabotage."
"Unfortunately, the worst fears have been confirmed," Tusk said in a post to X on Monday morning. The detonation "of an explosive device destroyed the railway track," the prime minister added.
Tusk did not name any suspects or a potential motive for the alleged sabotage. The prime minister did, however, note the line's importance in delivering aid to Ukraine.
"Emergency services and the prosecutor's office are working at the scene," Tusk said. "On the same route, closer to Lublin, damage has also been identified."
In a later post, Tusk said the incident was "an unprecedented act of sabotage targeting directly the security of the Polish state and its civilians. This route is also crucially important for delivering aid to Ukraine."
"We will catch the perpetrators, regardless of who their backers are," Tusk added.
Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski echoed Tusk's assessment in a post to social media.
"There is no doubt that we are dealing with an act of sabotage," Kierwinski wrote. "Another section of this strategic railway route, where the tracks were damaged, is also being investigated."
Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said in a post to X that units under the command of the Defense Ministry had been deployed to assist in the investigation.
Military units will inspect some 75 miles of track running to the Polish town of Hrubieszow along the border with Ukraine, Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
Polish police said the damage was discovered during an inspection on Sunday morning after a train driver reported irregularities.
Shortly after the damage was discovered, Tusk said it was possible that sabotage was to blame.
