2016 Wrocław attack

2016 Wrocław attack
Part of Terrorism in Europe
Location	Wrocław, Poland
Date	May 19, 2016 (2016-05-19) 1:43 p.m. (CET)
Target	Civilians
Attack type	Extortion-based terrorism,
Deaths	0
Injured	1
Perpetrator	Paweł R.
No. of participants	1
Convicted	Paweł R.

The 2016 Wrocław attack occurred at 2 p.m. on 19 May 2016. The perpetrator Paweł R. left a bag inside which was a home-made bomb-like device on a bus stopping at Ulica Tadeusza Kościuszki we Wrocławiu, causing injury to one person. A couple of days later, the 22-year-old chemistry student Paweł R. was arrested suspected of attempting the bomb attack. During his trial, the man claimed that his intent was to warn and not to harm anyone.

Attack

On May 19, 2016, the suspected perpetrator called the emergency services and played a pre-recorded audio with a synthesised voice that four bombs have been planted across the city of Wrocław. He demanded to be given 120 kg of golden bars. If they did not comply, the city would be turned into "Second Brussels" – the perpetrator said.

Around 1:30 p.m. (CET) a man fully clothed would enter a bus belonging to the line 145. After a couple of minutes, the bus would stop next to the Wrocław Główny railway station, on which the perpetrator would exit, leaving the bag (with the package inside) on board right next to a baby stroller. Quickly, the worried owner of the said stroller would give the bag to the bus driver. While on the red light, the driver would look inside the bag, seeing the package containing a pot with a piece of plasticine. Unable to contact the administration, he would stop right next to the bus stop located on the Ulica Tadeusza Kościuszki. The driver brought the device right outside the bus, putting it on the sidewalk. Not long after, at 1:43 p.m. (CET), the bomb would explode, injuring an innocent bystander. The pieces of the bomb had hit the person on their hand and legs. It was estimated that 41 people were on the bus at the time of the attack.

The perpetrator used a home-made pressure cooker bomb, very similar to the one used in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. The bomb was made out an around 3-liter pressure cooker, filled with explosive substance, a home-made fuze (alarm clock, battery, wires and a broken/shattered Christmas lightbulb). The substance used was similar to gunpowder, however slightly modified, causing for it to not explode properly.

Aftermath

After the attack, Polish police would dispatch more than 400 officers, release a facial composite of the perpetrator and the footage from the bus cameras.

After an intense investigation, the police would find that the 22 year old Paweł R., a student of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology was responsible for the attack. He was studying his third year however as reported by his classmates and teachers, he wasn't seen for a couple of months before the attack took place. The arrest would take place on 24th of May 2016 when Polish Anti-Terrorist Forces breached his house in Szprotawa. While he did not expect this to happened, Paweł R. complied with the authorities in his arrest. During his first interrogation, he pleaded guilty but refused to give any explanations on the event.

On 20th of March 2017, his hearing (in court) would begin. Paweł R. would be accused of extortion, attempted mass murder and terrorism. In November of the same year, he would be sentenced with 20 years in prison, however that would be shortened in April 2018 by 5 years after an appeal to the court made by his parents and his psychiatrist.