Warsaw bans weapon carrying on 11 November as Independence Day security tightens

Concrete barriers and city measures

Warsaw is preparing security for the 11 November Independence Day celebrations, and concrete barriers have been placed on Krakowskie Przedmieście, where traffic on the affected section has been halted. Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski said on social media that the barriers were set up on police recommendation. He said the city remains in constant contact with the police and other services, which he says have sufficient forces and resources to secure the planned events. More barriers may follow at locations police indicate if they consider it necessary. Trzaskowski also instructed city units, mainly the Municipal Guard, monitoring services and the Capital Security Centre, to stay especially alert. He added that additional bans on pyrotechnics will also apply on 11 November.

Weapons ban across the capital

The ban was introduced by a regulation of the Minister of Interior and Administration dated 4 November 2026, which has been published in the Journal of Laws (Dziennik Ustaw). It covers the whole city area of Warsaw on 11 November and bans carrying or moving weapons in an unloaded state. Police confirmed the scope in a communique, describing the rule in these words:

“Regulation introduces a ban on carrying or moving in an unloaded state all kinds of weapons across the area of the city of Warsaw on 11 November 2026.”

The measure is not a new step taken in response to recent events in Krakow, since similar restrictions applied on 11 November in previous years. Its purpose is to protect participants of state ceremonies and public gatherings, which draw groups of many thousands to the capital on that day. The justification attached to the draft regulation put the reasoning this way:

“Given the scale of this undertaking, there is a need to take additional preventive measures aimed at temporarily raising the level of security.”

Exemptions and who must lock weapons away

The ban does not cover people whose weapons are held under a certificate issued to in-house corporate protection services, to licensed personal and property security firms, or to employers whose staff face a particular risk of attack in their duties. Diplomatic staff and consular mission members are also exempt, as are people whose weapons are essential for direct protection under separate international agreements. All other permit holders, including sport shooters, collectors and hunters, must keep their weapons in permanent storage on that day.

Penalties for violations

Under the Act on weapons and ammunition, carrying or moving a weapon in breach of the ban counts as a petty offence, punishable by detention or a fine. Police say a violation also leads to the immediate seizure of the weapon and the start of proceedings to withdraw the holder's permit. Police are calling on everyone to follow the rules strictly.

Nationwide alert levels and the holiday's history

A second alert level, BRAVO, and a second CRP alert level, BRAVO-CRP, are in force across Poland under an order of the prime minister. Railway lines managed by PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. and PKP Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa sp. z o.o. are under the third level, CHARLIE. The holiday marks the day in 1918 when the Regency Council handed supreme command of the Polish armed forces to Józef Piłsudski. The Sejm of the Republic of Poland established the holiday in 1937, and it was abolished in 1945. It was not officially observed during the People's Republic period and was restored in 1989 by statute, since when 11 November has been a day off work. The timeline below lists these milestones.