"Bloody Friday": Student suspected of planning a murder arrested in Poland
In Poland, a 21-year-old Ukrainian student is suspected of preparing to kill a random person driven by racial hatred and a desire to participate in the "Bloody Friday" internet challenge. He has been remanded in custody for three months.
"Bloody Friday": Student suspected of planning a murder detained in Poland
According to DW, on October 12, the Lublin Regional Prosecutor's Office provided information regarding the investigation conducted into Jaroslaw F., a student at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin.
According to the prosecutor's office, the suspect planned to attack a randomly selected person with a knife and kill them. Investigators link the motives for the potential crime to racial hatred and the desire to participate in an online challenge called Bloody Friday — "Qonli juma".
The investigation was launched following an appeal from the university administration. One of the university staff members reported that seminar participants expressed concern over the aggressive and extremist statements made by another student.
The prosecutor's office emphasized that during classes, Jaroslaw F. praised crimes, including those committed on the grounds of racial animosity. Furthermore, he expressed an intention to kill people indiscriminately as part of the challenge and incited another student to commit similar acts.
According to the investigation, he possessed three knives: he carried one with him, while two others designed for throwing were found at his home. Jaroslaw F. was apprehended while working as a taxi driver for extra income.
The prosecutor's office stated that the student had no prior history of psychiatric treatment and was known among his classmates as a calm and thoughtful person. According to AFP, if proven guilty, he could face up to 15 years in prison.
Several attacks in educational institutions have also been recorded in Poland in recent days. On October 10, on the premises of an adult education center in Warsaw, a 21-year-old student injured two 17-year-old girls and a 24-year-old woman. One of the victims was hospitalized, while the other two received medical assistance on the spot.
On October 8, at a primary school in Leszczydół-Nowiny, a 15-year-old teenager attacked three people. One of the victims — a 37-year-old school employee — died. On October 7, an attack by a 19-year-old youth at a school in Ostrołęka left nine people injured.
Commenting on these events, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that social networks and video games might have driven the teenagers to commit the attacks. This is his assessment, and the report provided does not confirm that these incidents are linked to the case of Jaroslaw F. or the "Bloody Friday" challenge.