Poland migrant clashes intensify as Warsaw passes shoot to kill law after soldier death

Polish MPs have voted overwhelmingly to pass a new law allowing soldiers and border guards to fire live rounds at migrants trying to break into the country from Belarus.

The passing of the legislation comes in the wake of the tragic death of a Polish border guard last week, who was killed by a spear thrown by a migrant from inside Belarusian territory.

Politicians in the Polish Sejm voted 401 in favour of the law, while 17 voted against.

The new legislation exempts public officials carrying weapons from liability where they use them in self-defence or “pre-emptively” when the “life, health and freedom” of law enforcement officials are threatened during an “unlawful attack on the inviolability of the state border”.

Polish soldiers and border guards clashed again all day on Saturday with large groups of illegal migrants.

Video images show the Polish troops forming a defensive line behind riot shields, as groups of migrants stand around about twenty metres away.

One of them appears to throw a projectile towards the border guards, who retaliate by throwing a stun grenade.

The Polish soldiers hurl abuse at the migrants, shouting “f*** you, motherf***ers” in English.

Amnesty International has criticised the new legislation, saying it sets a dangerous precedent.

In a strongly worded statement, they said: “Under international law and standards, the use of force against individuals must be strictly necessary and proportionate to the threat posed; the use of firearms is prohibited except in situations where there is an imminent threat of death or serious injury.

“Any attempt by the Polish authorities to undermine these principles would be unlawful.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko, the Belarusian President, has weaponised immigration in response to EU sanctions imposed on his regime following his controversial re-election in 2020.

In an attempt to undermine the EU, Belarus has helped immigrants travel through the country and cross into Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

The refugees are mainly from Iraq, Afghanistan, other Middle Eastern countries and Africa.

The numbers have steadily been increasing, with some 26,000 immigrants entering Poland from its eastern neighbour in 2023.

This was nearly ten thousand more than in the previous year.