A polling station in eastern Warsaw, the capital of Poland, was closed late this afternoon after authorities detected a suspicious backpack on the premises and removed it. The incident prompted an immediate response from security services and raised questions about safety at voting locations as Poland prepared to cast ballots in the general election.
Police received a report that a suspicious backpack had been found outside a school near the voting center. Shortly before 19:00 in the evening, a Warsaw Police spokesman explained the situation to a major Polish newspaper. The remarks were quoted as confirming the discovery and the steps being taken in the minutes that followed.
The area around the polling station was evacuated quickly. A security perimeter of 100 meters was established, and the voting center was closed to the public as a precaution while specialists assessing potential threats evaluated the item. Bomb squads from the Independent Counter Terrorism Service conducted an inspection of the backpack and, after careful consideration, removed it and placed it into a pyrotechnic disposal container for controlled handling.
The polling station is located on Tarnowiecka Street in the Praga-Południe district. With voting underway in the general election, authorities coordinated the response to ensure the safety of staff and voters while maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
This incident highlights the importance of security measures at polling sites, particularly during major elections when large numbers of voters converge at multiple centers across the city and country. Local authorities emphasized that routine safety protocols were followed, and no injuries were reported. The investigation into how and why the backpack was left at the site continues, with officials urging residents to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity around polling locations.