Polish retailers pull Halloween masks and fake knives after school knife attacks

The attacks behind the decision

In the week of 5 October 2026, several knife attacks hit Polish schools, including a school for adults. In the Wyszków county attack, a 15-year-old boy wounded three people at a primary school, and one of them, a 37-year-old woman, died. In Ostrołęka, a 19-year-old attacked nine people with a knife, among them five students, two teachers and two bystanders. Police in Sierpc detained a 17-year-old who, according to the report, had planned an attack at a school. A 21-year-old woman also attacked three people with a knife at a school for adults. The chart below sets out how many people were targeted in the three attacks with published victim counts.

Retailers pull Halloween lines

Biedronka's category director, Małgorzata Polakowska, told Wirtualna Polska that the withdrawal of products is now running in every store in the chain. She explained the decision in these words:

We decided that in the current circumstances the most important thing is to adapt the offer to the social context and the expectations of our customers.

Action said its press office had decided to remove Halloween costumes with masks from its Polish stores because of the recent incidents in the country. Carrefour Polska said it had started withdrawing part of its Halloween range. According to Wirtualna Polska, which cited store information, Auchan has changed its Halloween range and stopped selling gadgets that resemble sharp tools. The chain said it had ordered a new review of its Halloween offer, citing the safety and wellbeing of its customers, especially the youngest.

SMYK goes furthest

The SMYK board decided to withdraw from all stationary stores and from online sales all Halloween accessories that imitate dangerous tools, such as plastic knives and hatchets, as well as items with drastic elements. Katarzyna Czechowska-Jakubowska, the chain's marketing specialist, linked the decision to social responsibility and to the feelings of parents and children. She added:

We believe that in the current circumstances, having such items on the shelves of a store whose offer is aimed at families is inappropriate.

Ahead of Halloween

Halloween is marked on 31 October in many countries. It has no deep roots in Polish culture, but young people in Poland increasingly celebrate it. Children dress as monsters and vampires and go door to door in the evening asking for sweets. The product removals therefore fall in the run-up to that date.

Government response

Education Minister Barbara Nowacka said on Tuesday, 13 October, that several changes are coming, some of them legal. The changes are meant to give schools and principals more protection. Her announcement came after the week of attacks described above.