An illegal migrant from Morocco suspected of fatally stabbing a Polish soldier near the Belarusian border earlier this year is believed to be on the run in Western Europe.
General Arkadiusz Szkutnik, head of Operation “Safe Podlasie,” confirmed that the suspect, who attacked Sgt. Mateusz Sitek in May, is being actively tracked in France and Belgium.
The attack occurred on May 28 near Dubicze Cerkiewne, when Sgt. Sitek, serving with the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade, was stabbed through the border fence. He later died from his injuries on June 6. According to General Szkutnik, the suspect has been identified and law enforcement agencies are closing in on him. “We know where he’s been and where he’s likely to be,” Szkutnik said, adding, “It’s just a matter of time before he’s arrested.”
Despite the military’s involvement, the investigation is now in the hands of law enforcement, with the District Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw leading the charge. Authorities have gained valuable information from detained migrants who crossed illegally, but they’re keeping further details under wraps for now.
The suspect, among 42 individuals prioritized for their violent acts against Polish soldiers, remains elusive, and Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has called for Belarusian authorities to help with his identification and extradition—though no significant cooperation has emerged.
With tensions rising at the Polish-Belarusian border, where soldiers have faced increasing violence from migrants and smugglers, General Szkutnik made it clear that the military would not tolerate attacks on Polish forces. “There will be no leniency,” he stated, emphasizing the army’s commitment to border security and supporting law enforcement.
