Just days after the brutal double axe murder in the village of Kadłub in Opole Voivodeship, Pomeranian police arrested the first copycat. The 18-year-old resident of Gdańsk was detained for publicly praising a crime and calling for similar offences to be committed. The case shows how quickly a tragedy in a small village in Opole has become an inspiration for people seeking sensation online.
The incident took place last Sunday (1 March 2026). Officers from the Central Cybercrime Bureau (CBZC) detected disturbing comments under one of the posts about the tragic event in Kadłub. The author of the posts not only glorified the act of 17-year-old Łukasz G., but also openly called on others to repeat such a massacre. The content appeared on a popular social media platform and was so drastic that the CBZC immediately passed the case on to local police.
Detectives from the Gdańsk City Police Headquarters (including officers from the Przymorze and Wrzeszcz districts) quickly identified the author and his address. The same day, the 18-year-old was detained at his flat in Gdańsk. He did not resist. During the search, officers secured three electronic devices – a mobile phone, a tablet and a laptop – that may have been used to publish the posts. The equipment was handed over to a court-appointed expert in digital forensics.
On Monday, 3 March 2026, the 18-year-old was charged with publicly inciting the commission of a crime and praising a criminal offence (Article 255 § 1 and § 3 of the Criminal Code). He was placed under police supervision – he was not remanded in custody, but he must report regularly to the police station and may not leave the country. This type of offence carries a penalty of up to 3 years’ imprisonment.
The Gdańsk City Police Commander stressed in an official statement: „The internet does not guarantee full anonymity. Every action online may entail criminal liability. Thanks to cooperation with the Central Cybercrime Bureau, the threat was quickly eliminated and it was shown that this type of content will not go unpunished.”
This is the first, but probably not the last, case of copycat behaviour following the high-profile Kadłub case. Police across the country are monitoring the internet for similar posts. Both the Opole and Pomeranian police forces are appealing to internet users: do not share graphic footage from the crime scene and do not glorify the perpetrator – this is not only a lack of respect for the victims, but also a real crime.
The 18-year-old from Gdańsk remains free under police supervision, but his case will continue in court. The investigation into the posts is ongoing, and experts are analysing the content of all the comments and the history of the devices. All of Poland is watching whether the wave of calls for violence online will be quickly stamped out after the tragedy in Kadłub.
Source: Pomeranian Police
