Poland: Priest stabbed before Mass

Fr Ireneusz Bakalarczyk

A Catholic priest is in a 'serious but stable' condition in hospital after he was stabbed in front of his church in the western Polish city of Wrocław yesterday.

Fr Ireneusz Bakalarczyk, 48, was walking into the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where he was due to celebrate the 7am Mass, when he was allegedly approached by a homeless man. After exchanging a few words the man held up a knife and stabbed Fr Ireneusz in the chest and abdomen.

The priest was rushed to hospital where he underwent an emergency operation.

A 57 year-old suspect was arrested shortly after the attack.

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Wroclaw, Rafal Kowalski, said the stabbing did not seem to be motivated by any personal grievance against Fr Ireneusz. He said the attacker seemed to be willing to attack any 'man in a cassock'.