A video rapidly spread on social media showing two young men insulting a minor and Ukraine, but the train conductor stood up to defend him.
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He stood between the two men and other passengers, trying to maintain order on the train. However, this did not calm them down; they continued shouting xenophobic insults about migrants from Ukraine and Belarus.
When the train stopped at a station, one of the men apparently pushed the train conductor, which prompted other passengers to intervene.
They scuffled with each other and eventually just pushed the harassing young men off the train.
This incident occurred a few days after three Polish men allegedly attacked a young Ukrainian couple in Wrocław – a separate case that the police said is being investigated for a possible motive related to nationality.
The video also shows a police officer detaining one of the men. Although this incident happened a few days after three Poles attacked a young Ukrainian couple in Wrocław, this time the police did not determine it to be a crime committed on the basis of nationality.
The Polish police stated that the suspects are 20 and 22 years old. According to the statement, the young men harassed a Ukrainian teenager on the train, although the victim told officers that he did not understand why he was targeted.
“The boy’s mother did not indicate that there were any nationality-related violations,” the police commented on the situation to the Polish news portal “Wirtualna Polska.”
Both men were fined 500 zlotys (115 euros) for disturbing public order.
Police officers added that both men were tested for sobriety and found not to have consumed alcohol.
Information collected by the police showed that the train conductor does not feel victimized.
“From the facts we established and the video, it is clear that this was not an attack directed at the train conductor. He simply found himself near threatening individuals and can be said to have been indirectly affected. He himself does not feel victimized and does not intend to file a complaint,” reported senior inspector Aneta Nasilowska.
The mother of the 16-year-old boy also decided not to report this case.
