The incident took place on August 13 in Pilchowice. Unknown perpetrators set fire to the famous bridge. As reported by lwowecki.info:
The boards in the central section of the bridge were set on fire. After someone noticed thick smoke rising above the bridge, they called the emergency number.
Firefighters and police officers arrived at the scene. The Lwówek-based outlet reported: – By then, part of the decking had burned. The sleepers had also been scorched. Fortunately, the arson occurred early in the morning, and the fire and smoke were quickly spotted, because the high temperature of the burning boards and sleepers could have damaged the entire historic structure.
Police are investigating the causes and circumstances of the incident.
Let us recall. The bridge was widely discussed four years ago, when information emerged that Hollywood filmmakers led by Tom Cruise allegedly planned to blow up the historic structure for the next film in the “Mission: Impossible” series. However, as Polskie Radio Wrocław reported at the time:
Ultimately, a statement was issued by Christopher McQuarrie, the director of the seventh “Mission: Impossible” installment. It stated that it was the Poles who suggested to the filmmakers that part of the deck of the 111-year-old crossing could be blown up, since it had to be dismantled anyway for the bridge’s renovation. In the end, the filmmakers did not come.
Daniel Gibski, deputy Lower Silesian Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments, then spoke:
Due to the enormous interest in the subject and the nationwide significance of the matter, and in order to dispel doubts about the progress of the administrative procedure aimed at entering the railway bridge over Lake Pilchowickie in the register of monuments, we decided to publish the decision concluding the proceedings of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments in this matter. The decision has entered legal circulation; it is not final.
I would like to thank Dr. hab. Prof. Magdalena Gawin, General Conservator of Monuments, and Dr. hab. Katarzyna Zalasińska, Director of the Department for the Protection of Monuments at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, as well as the residents of Lower Silesia and everyone who stood up in defense of the historic structure and thereby demonstrated enormous, unprecedented awareness of the value of the national heritage.
Details below:
