Police found weapons at the home of the man arrested yesterday outside the Presidential Palace waving a hand grenade.

Andrzej K. (surname withheld due to Poland’s privacy laws) was arrested midday yesterday after he went to the Presidential Palace, produced what turned out to be a disarmed hand grenade from his pocket and threatened protestors against the Smolensk cross, shouting “Are you afraid?”

The 60 year-old man, who lives in Warsaw, was immediately arrested. When police later searched his home they found an air rifle, four ammunition magazines and parts of a gun.

Andrzej K. later told police he “could not explain his actions” and was taken for a psychological examination. He will hear charges today after three witnesses said they felt their lives were in danger after the man produced the hand grenade. He could face up to ten years in prison.

This is the second incident outside the Presidential Palace this week. On Tuesday, a 71 year-old man was arrested after he threw excrement at a plaque unveiled last week in memory of the 96 who died in the April 10 air disaster which killed President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others near Smolensk military airport.

Warsaw authorities are considering closing the road outside the Presidential Palace in the aftermath of the attacks.

“If emotions do not calm down then it may be necessary to permanently close Krakowskie Przedmieście,” said Warsaw local government official Jaroslaw Jozwiak. (pg)

Source: PAP/TVN24

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