Dangerous props: Polish shops seized knives on Halloween after attacks

The largest retail chains and retail stores in Poland have decided to urgently remove from sale plastic and decorative knives on display for the upcoming Halloween holiday. Retailers’ reaction followed a series of high-profile attacks with knives in public places in Polish cities, which caused increased alarm in society.

The management of retail chains and the police drew attention to the fact that many masquerade attributes are practically indistinguishable from real military weapons, which provokes panic among citizens and complicates the prompt response of law enforcement officers. In addition, in some cases, the attackers disguised real barbed-cutting objects as holiday souvenirs and children's accessories.

Polish law enforcement agencies have stepped up patrols of crowded places and urged parents and educational institutions to refrain from buying dangerous accessories for the holiday. There are already proposals in the country’s parliament to introduce strict legislative regulations for the implementation of realistic imitations of knives during seasonal fairs.

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