Priest wounded in Jarosław abbey knife attack taken off ventilator as suspect remains unfit for questioning

Medical update on the victims

Rev. Marek Pieńkowski was disconnected from a mechanical ventilator on 4 October, ten days after sustaining critical injuries in a knife attack at the Benedictine Abbey in Jarosław. Representatives of the abbey announced that the priest had begun communicating with his surroundings in short sentences and had received Holy Communion under the species of the Precious Blood. Pieńkowski remains hospitalized alongside one other victim, as two of the four surviving injured individuals continue to receive inpatient medical care. Rev. Adrian Mantykiewicz, who was also wounded during the assault, was discharged from the hospital earlier. The attack claimed the life of Rev. Stanisław Zbojnowicz, who died at the Medical Care Centre in Jarosław shortly after the incident. Physicians identified multiple stab and cut wounds across his chest and abdomen, which caused extensive blood loss and cardiac arrest leading to his death despite resuscitation efforts.

Course of the 24 September attack

The stabbing took place on Thursday, 24 September 2026, on the grounds of the abbey complex in Jarosław. Police officers detained the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Ukrainian national Ihor M., directly at the scene of the incident. Investigators established that the suspect had arrived in Poland from Germany during the night and intended to proceed toward the border crossing in Korczowa, though he did not cross the frontier. Upon entering the abbey property, the assailant attacked five people in sequence. The victims included three clergymen (Rev. Stanisław Zbojnowicz, Rev. Marek Pieńkowski, and Rev. Adrian Mantykiewicz) as well as two lay individuals, Krzysztof G. and Ewa S. Following his arrest on site, officers transported the suspect to a hospital facility, where medical staff collected blood samples to screen for the presence of alcohol and narcotic substances.

Legal proceedings and psychiatric findings

A court ordered Ihor M. to be held in pre-trial detention for three months, specifying that the measure be carried out within a high-security forensic psychiatry ward at a psychiatric hospital. Expert psychiatrists diagnosed the suspect with polymorphic psychotic disorders, noting symptoms that include thinking disturbances and delusional interpretations of events. The medical experts concluded that the suspect requires continuous psychiatric treatment. Although mid-week evaluations indicated an unstable improvement compared to his condition on 24 and 25 September (including the subsiding of overt hostility), psychiatrists determined that his mental state still prevents the execution of planned procedural actions. The prosecution intends to appoint two psychiatric experts again to evaluate whether Ihor M. can be formally presented with charges and interrogated. Planned legal charges against him include murder, attempted murder, and causing grievous bodily harm.

Community response and witness outreach

Following the incident, the abbey established a dedicated social media presence titled 'Jarosławskie Opactwo - po tragedii' to provide official health updates and coordinate pastoral care for the community. The announcement concerning Rev. Pieńkowski was published with his explicit consent to inform parishioners and the public of his progress. In the notice, the priest expressed gratitude to those praying on his behalf while requesting continued remembrance.

With the consent of Rev. Marek Pieńkowski, we share the information that today he was disconnected from the ventilator, began communicating using short sentences, and received Holy Communion under the species of the Precious Blood. Rev. Marek thanks everyone who supports him with prayer. He asks for continued spiritual remembrance before God.

Abbey representatives also published a direct appeal seeking contact with individuals who were present during the stabbing. Pastoral staff asked direct witnesses to reach out so that the institution could assess their emotional well-being and provide ongoing assistance.

We would like to ask how you are feeling, whether you are managing, and whether we could help you with anything.