Poland Accuses Russia of Orchestrating Shopping Centre Arson through Social Media Recruitment

In a serious accusation, Poland's Foreign Minister claims evidence points to Russian involvement in a major fire that destroyed a Warsaw shopping centre. The incident has resulted in heightened diplomatic tensions as Poland takes actions to curb Russian influence within its borders.

Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski has revealed that there is evidence suggesting Russia was behind the massive shopping centre fire that occurred in Warsaw last May. In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Sikorski stated that Moscow utilized the Telegram messaging service to recruit individuals in Poland to carry out the arson. He condemned these actions as being "completely unacceptable" and announced the closure of a second Russian consulate in Poland as a direct consequence of the alleged plot.

The devastating fire at the Marywilska shopping centre destroyed about 1,400 small businesses and primarily impacted the Vietnamese community in Warsaw. Sikorski stated, "We have evidence that they commissioned people living in Poland, they commissioned them on Telegram and paid them to set fire to this huge shopping mall," adding that it was fortunate that no one was injured as a result of the incident.

In light of these developments, Poland's foreign minister expressed that Russia's diplomatic presence in the country needs to be significantly reduced. He confirmed that besides the embassy, only one consulate remains operational following the closure of the one in Krakow, which was also closed to mitigate concerns over Russian espionage.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, however, denied all allegations, labeling them as "Russophobic" and "groundless." He rebuffed claims about the reduction of Russian diplomatic representation in Poland, asserting that Poland's actions are part of a broader agenda of hostility towards Russia.

Poland, which has been vigilant in countering perceived Russian threats since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has previously detained and convicted several individuals for purported sabotage on behalf of Russian agents. The Polish government has conducted a thorough investigation into the shopping centre fire, leading to the conclusion that it was orchestrated by an unidentified figure in Russia.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that some individuals believed to be involved in the fire have already been detained, while efforts continue to locate others connected to the incident. The tragic fallout from the fire pushed many traders to relocate to the newly opened Modlinska 6D shopping centre, exacerbating concerns for those who lost important records and cash during the chaos.