WARSAW, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- A crisis group was formed in the central Polish city of Konin on Monday morning in preparation for a potential "escalation" of anger following the killing of a 21-year-old man by a policeman on Nov. 14.
The circumstances of the young man's death are still uncertain. According to Polish media reports, the policeman was trying to identify him and a companion, when one of them tried to escape and an altercation ensued, during which the young man was shot. According to statements from Konin policemen quoted by Polish media, the young man had a knife and possibly drugs in his possession and behaved in a threatening manner. The prosecutors are now investigating the circumstances.
On Sunday night, a group of youth protested in front of a police station in Konin, shouting and throwing rocks and bottles at the police officers there, according to the Polish Press Agency (PAP). Three policemen were hurt -- though their wounds are not life-threatening -- and seven youth were arrested.
"We've created the crisis group in order to see, among others, how the police are planning to deal with such a difficult situation and social discontent," Witold Nowak, the deputy mayor of Konin, told journalists on Monday. He said the municipality was very concerned that the situation might be "escalating."
The father of the killed young man appealed for calm. "What you are doing is not helping ... for the good of my son, please put an end to this," the father said in a public appeal on Monday.
Authorities have asked teachers in Konin to discuss the situation with students and urged parents to monitor the behavior of their children, as many of those involved in the unrest in front of the police station on Sunday night were minors.
