The incident occurred at night in Nowogrodziec on Kościelna Street. After 3:30 a.m., unknown perpetrators blew up an ATM at a PKO BP bank branch. A fire broke out in the room where the device was located. As this was a multi-family residential building, firefighters checked the apartments on the upper floors for carbon monoxide. In one case, the levels exceeded the permitted limits—a person was evacuated but did not require medical attention.
This is how the firefighters from OSP Nowogrodziec described the situation.
Alarm! At 3:39 a.m. on January 23, 2021, we received a report of an ATM fire and an attempt to blow it up.
We responded with two fire units. The police were present at the scene, where we found a damaged room containing the ATM that was on fire. We immediately applied one water stream and extinguished the burning electronics with a dry-powder extinguisher. After additional units arrived, the electricity supply was disconnected and the bank premises were searched for injured people; none were found. Because the incident occurred within a multi-family residential building, the apartments were checked for carbon monoxide. In one apartment, the concentration exceeded the permitted limits because of smoke. One person was evacuated and did not require medical attention. The apartment was ventilated.
A police operation has been underway since 4 a.m. So far, the perpetrators have not been identified.
Let us add that attempts to break into ATMs have intensified recently. For at least several weeks, police have been patrolling at night in places where cash machines are located.