An Iraqi national found carrying “traces” of explosives was detained in the central city of Łódź on Sunday, just days ahead of this week’s World Youth Days.

The 48-year-old man will be charged with possession of explosive materials, a crime which in Poland carries a sentence of up to eight years.

The prosecutor’s office has said, however, that there are no grounds for filing terrorism charges against him. Spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office, Beata Marczak, has said that the “traces” of explosives were not enough to set off a detonation.

The man had a list of shopping centres and supermarkets on him at the time of the arrest, local daily Dziennik Łódzki reports.

The man will remain in custody over a period of two months.

Private TV news channel Polsat News reported that the Iraqi citizen had arrived in Łódź only days before the arrest, and had been earlier staying in Switzerland and Sweden, where he was deported from.

Sunday’s arrest came two days ahead of the opening of this week’s World Youth Days in Poland, to be attended by Pope Francis and thousands of young Catholics from across the globe. (aba)

Source: Dziennik Łódzki, IAR, PAP