Polish PM Tusk Confirms Sabotage in Explosive Attack on Key Rail Line Near Łowicz

At 3:47 AM on November 17, 2025, a powerful explosion ripped through Poland’s vital E30 rail corridor near Łowicz, shutting down one of Europe’s most critical freight arteries. Within hours, Donald Franciszek Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, stood before cameras in Warsaw and declared it not an accident — but sabotage. "Every technical analysis confirms this was a deliberate attack on Polish infrastructure," he said. "We have evidence pointing to foreign involvement." The message was clear: Poland is under targeted assault, and the rail network — the backbone of its economy — is now a battlefield.

What Happened on the Tracks?

The blast, centered between railway kilometer markers 328.7 and 329.1 on the Warsaw-Poznań line, destroyed 150 meters of track and obliterated state-of-the-art signaling equipment made by Siemens Mobility Polska Sp. z o.o.. The damage wasn’t just physical — it was economic. Polskie Koleje Państwowe S.A. (PKP Group), Poland’s state-owned rail operator, lost an estimated 387 million złoty (€88.5 million) in daily freight revenue. The attack hit during the quietest hours — between 2:15 and 2:30 AM — when surveillance footage captured a dark Volkswagen Transporter T6 speeding away from the scene. The National Police confirmed traces of RDX-based explosives, a military-grade compound rarely found outside state arsenals or terrorist caches.

Who’s Investigating — and Why Now?

The National Security Bureau (BBN) launched Case No. BBN-2025/447 within hours, pulling in analysts from the Internal Security Agency (ABW) and the Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW). The timing is chilling. Just weeks earlier, on October 28, Poland deployed Patriot missile batteries near its border with Belarus — a move Moscow condemned on November 2. Tusk didn’t mention Russia by name, but the subtext was unmistakable. "This attack coincides with heightened tensions," he said, linking the sabotage to Poland’s broader security posture.

Professor Marek Szymański, director of the Railway Engineering Institute at Warsaw University of Technology, added a disturbing detail: "The precision suggests insider knowledge." He explained that track inspections occur every Sunday between 1:00 AM and 4:00 AM — exactly when the attack unfolded. That’s not random. That’s planned.

The Human and Economic Cost

The disruption rippled across Europe. Deutsche Bahn AG reported 127 delayed shipments carrying €43.6 million in automotive parts meant for Volkswagen plants in Wolfsburg. Over 8,200 passengers on 18 international services — including EuroCity trains operated by PKP Intercity S.A. and ČD Cargo a.s. — were stranded or rerouted. The European Union Agency for Railways issued an urgent alert, warning of cascading delays across the Rail Baltica corridor.

Repair crews from PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. began work at 6:20 AM on November 17, deploying 137 workers and 28 specialized machines — including a €5.2 million Plasser & Theurer track renewal unit. Initial repairs are estimated at 12.7 million złoty (€2.9 million), with full restoration expected by November 22. But money won’t fix the fear.

Who’s Responsible? The Shadow of History

Poland has been here before. In May 2022, a similar sabotage occurred near Przemyśl, during the peak of Ukrainian refugee flows. Poland’s 2023 National Security Assessment pointed fingers at Belarusian intelligence. This time, the signature is different — more sophisticated, more brazen. The use of RDX, the timing, the vehicle — all suggest a level of coordination beyond typical criminal activity.

Even the U.S. is stepping in. At 6:15 PM on November 17, the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw confirmed the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group had arrived at Warsaw Chopin Airport, invited by Polish authorities. Their presence signals two things: Poland is treating this as a high-stakes national security crisis — and it’s not going to solve it alone.

What Comes Next?

On November 17, the Prosecutor's Office in Łowicz opened criminal proceedings under Article 260 § 1 of the Polish Penal Code — sabotage — with Case ID 14/P/2025. Led by Senior Prosecutor Małgorzata Kowalska, the case will now follow the evidence wherever it leads. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport, under Andrzej Adamczyk, activated Crisis Management Protocol CZ-2025/11, deploying 42 extra security personnel along the entire E30 corridor.

The message to potential adversaries? Poland won’t be intimidated. But the deeper question lingers: Is this a one-time strike, or the opening salvo in a broader campaign against critical infrastructure? With 28.7 million tons of freight — nearly 20% of Poland’s total rail volume — moving through this line annually, the stakes couldn’t be higher.