Warsaw, Poland – Former national police head, Jarosław Szymczyk, has been charged with illegally possessing and firing an anti-tank grenade launcher at the national police headquarters in December 2022. The incident resulted in significant damage to the main police headquarters in Warsaw, including a hole blown in the floor. Both Szymczyk and a civilian employee were hospitalized with minor injuries as a result of the incident.
The indictment comes after a lengthy investigation that began more than three years ago. Szymczyk faces allegations of possessing the RGW-90 grenade launcher without the necessary license and failing to declare its transportation across the Polish border. Prosecutors claim that he unintentionally caused an event that endangered the lives and health of many people at the police headquarters, as well as causing significant property damage.
Following the incident, Szymczyk claimed that he had received the grenade launcher as a gift from Ukrainian uniformed services during a visit to Ukraine in 2022. However, an investigation revealed that the launcher was functional and had been given to him in safe mode, only for Szymczyk to unlock it in his office, causing it to discharge.
Prosecutors have now charged Szymczyk with illegally importing the grenade launcher into Poland without notifying customs officials, which could result in up to eight years in prison. Additionally, he is facing charges of causing a dangerous event, with a potential sentence of up to five years for endangering public safety.
The incident has raised concerns about oversight and accountability within the Polish police force. The former government initially downplayed the incident, attributing the damage to construction work. However, an audit conducted under the current coalition government revealed procedural lapses and a lack of responsibility among senior officials.
Prosecutors are also investigating allegations of officials failing to perform their duties in response to the incident, including neglecting to inspect the gift and evacuate the police headquarters following the explosion. The case against Szymczyk will now go to trial, where he could potentially face years in prison if found guilty.