Police arrest 20-year-old after stabbing two people in Łękawica; helicopter ends five-hour manhunt

Domestic attack

Police in Łękawica, a village in the Wadowice district of Lesser Poland, were called to a domestic dispute at around 6:30 am on Saturday. A 20-year-old man attacked his relatives with a sharp instrument, leaving a 48-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman injured. Both were taken to hospital, with the man's wounds initially described as life-threatening. By midday, police said both victims were in a stable condition.

“Initially we had information about one injured person. Later it was verified – two people were attacked, one with a dangerous object.”

Suspect flees into the woods

After the assault, the suspect escaped to a nearby forest massif. A large-scale operation began within minutes, involving dozens of officers, sniffer dogs, drones, and a police Bell helicopter. The search area included dense woodland around Łękawica, a community of a few thousand people south of Wadowice.

“The man is a relative of the family, but I cannot provide details on the exact family ties.”

Five-hour manhunt ends with helicopter sighting

At 11:40, the crew of the police Bell helicopter spotted the suspect in the forest and relayed his position to officers on the ground. The man was arrested without further incident. He was then taken to a hospital for a routine medical check, standard procedure for detainees before questioning.

“At 11:40 the helicopter crew spotted the man in the forest massif. They immediately notified officers who were combing the area. The man was arrested.”

Victims stable, investigation continues

Police are yet to determine the motive. The injured man was conscious when paramedics arrived, but his condition later deteriorated; by early afternoon, officers said both patients were stable. The 20-year-old remains in police custody and will be questioned once medically cleared.