TORUŃ — 1984 · Murder
The Jerzy Popiełuszko Case
Warsaw priest Jerzy Popiełuszko, a supporter of the Solidarity movement, was abducted near Toruń on 19 October 1984 by three officers of communist Poland's SB secret police. His body was recovered on 30 October from the Vistula reservoir near Włocławek, and hundreds of thousands attended his funeral. At the Toruń trial in February 1985, the three officers and their superior, a colonel, were sentenced to between 14 and 25 years; the sentences were later reduced. It was one of the rare Eastern Bloc trials of secret-police officers. Popiełuszko was beatified by the Catholic Church in 2010.
- Date
- 1984
- Place
- Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Poland, Toruń, PL
- Category
- Murder
- Case Status
- Solved
- Coordinates
- 53.0200, 18.4700 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 19 October 1984The priest was abducted by secret-police officers.
- 30 October 1984His body was found in the Vistula reservoir.
- 27 December 1984The trial opened in Toruń.
- 7 February 1985Four defendants were convicted.
- 2010Popiełuszko was beatified.
Sources
- ADST — The Making of a Martyr: The Murder of Father Jerzy Popiełuszko adst.org ↗
- The Irish Times — Killer of Polish priest is freed irishtimes.com ↗
- ADST
- The Irish Times
Source grade B: at least one verifiable linked source. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.