Tens of thousands join Poland’s nationalist Independence Day march

Tens of thousands of nationalist sympathisers have gathered in Poland’s capital, Warsaw, for an Independence Day march, days after a mass shooting in Krakow killed six people. Participants carrying Polish flags assembled in central Warsaw on Wednesday, as police officers were deployed at the scene to secure the demonstration.

The annual march has faced criticism for anti-Semitic and anti-immigration rhetoric, while supporters say the gathering, held under the motto “A Pole is the host in Poland”, is an expression of national pride. Organisers of the march said they expected a record turnout, with many foreign nationalists set to attend, including Spain’s Revuelta, a youth movement linked to Vox, and members of the Hungarian far-right Mi Hazank party.

Poland’s conservative-nationalist President Karol Nawrocki was seen attending the march and has previously participated in both his official capacity and as a private citizen.