Witold M. Orłowski: Poland in the World of Terror

Terrorism has evolved over centuries, with recent decades seeing a shift towards targeting innocent civilians. Data shows that from 1970 to 2021, over 200,000 terrorist acts occurred globally, with significant casualties in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. In Europe, terrorism has historically been driven by nationalistic and leftist motives, but religiously motivated attacks have increased recently. Poland has remained relatively safe, with only eight recorded terrorist incidents from 2001 to 2021. However, recent events, including a knife attack in schools and a bombing in Krakow, have raised concerns about security and potential economic impacts, particularly on tourism. Despite these threats, Poland lacks strong conditions for terrorism to thrive.