Ambassador to UK says problem has become much worse since referendum, as he visits scene of Arkadiusz Jóźwik’s death

Poland’s ambassador to the UK has visited the scene of the killing of a 40-year-old Polish man in Harlow to express his shock at the death and alarm about the rise in xenophobic attacks after Britain’s vote to leave the EU.

Six teenage boys have been arrested in the Essex town after Arkadiusz Jóźwik, 40, was killed on Saturday night. His brother said he had been heard speaking Polish.

Essex police said that Jóźwik and a second Polish man who survived were apparently the victims of an unprovoked attack. The motive is unknown, but one line of inquiry was the possibility of it being a hate crime.

The killing has sparked widespread alarm after an upsurge in hate crime targeted at eastern Europeans followed Britain’s EU referendum.

The Polish ambassador, Arkady Rzegocki, visited the scene of the crime in the Stow area of Harlow, together with the local MP, Robert Halfon. Rzegocki expressed his shock and urged witnesses to help police investigate the killing.

He said he would take part in a “march of silence” on Saturday that is being organised by Polish community in Harlow.

Asked about xenophobic attacks after the Brexit vote, Rzegocki said: “Unfortunately there is much more after Brexit. We have found about 15 or 16 such situations.

“It is a very important tragedy and we have to work together on this issue. We will meet together on Saturday on this march of silence. I really hope it will help.”



Speaking alongside Rzegocki, Halfon delivered a strongly worded statement.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Flowers left at The Stow in Harlow. Photograph: Chris Radburn/PA

Halfon said: “I’m very proud of our Polish community in Harlow. The Polish people work incredibly hard and have opened up some lovely shops and helped regenerate parts of our town and employed more people.

“What has happened is an incredible tragedy. We need to find out the truth … This is not just a tragedy for the family or for Poland, it is a tragedy for Harlow and Britain as well.”

Asked about racist attacks on eastern Europeans since the referendum, Halfon added: “I believe that the vast majority of people who voted to leave the EU, did so for noble reasons. They believed they wanted to take control and believed Britain would be better off … These kind of awful things are done by a minority who come from the sewers who want to exploit division and have their own racist agenda.”

Halfon, who backed remain, added: “All of us need to stand up for tolerance and kindness and against any kind of division.”

Police in Harlow have been given the power to order anyone involved in crime or harassment to leave The Stow. The dispersal order came into effect at 7pm on Tuesday and will remain in place for 48 hours.

Eric Hind, organiser of Saturday’s protest march, said that the Polish community had remained quiet for too long about abuse.



Speaking to the Guardian, he said: “Brexit kind of gave the British people a kind of green light to be racist. My family and friends have all been abused. It happens on a daily basis.

“We have kept our mouths closed too long. This is the reason why I’m keen to organise this. Lots of people say they plan to travel here from all over the place. Everyone is welcome. This time it is the Polish people, but it could be Muslims, it could be any different group. We need to fight racism everywhere, every day.”

The second man who survived the incident suffered suspected fractures to his hands and bruising to his stomach. He was discharged from hospital.

Five boys aged 15 and one aged 16 were arrested on suspicion of murder but were released on on bail until 7 October pending further inquiries.