Polish police are hunting a man suspected of removing Polish and EU flags from a WWII museum in the coastal city of Gdańsk and setting them on fire.
The flags were taken from masts outside the Museum of the Second World War on the historic Westerplatte Peninsula, where the first shots of the war were fired.
The vandalism occurred on the night of April 1, with the culprit causing an estimated 7,500 złoty (€1,700) worth of damage, including to the masts.
Two of the flags were burned and another three scorched, Polish media reported.
After being alerted to the crime by museum authorities, police publicized pictures of a suspect secured from security cameras.
“A man whose image we are publishing may be connected with the case,” a local police spokesperson said. “Anyone who recognizes him is requested to contact us.”
Police believe the same perpetrator may have been involved in the burglary of three nearby food trailers, where damage was caused to the tune of around 4,000 złoty (€940).
The culprit faces charges of insulting state symbols, carrying a maximum penalty of a year in prison.
Westerplatte has deep historical significance for Poland, as it was here that on September 1, 1939, the German battleship SMS Schleswig-Holstein opened fire on the Polish military outpost, marking the first shots of the war.
Despite being vastly outnumbered and outgunned, the Polish defenders, led by Major Henryk Sucharski, managed to hold out for seven days against the German assault.
Their resistance became a symbol of courage and defiance, as they were eventually overwhelmed by German forces but refused to surrender without a fight.
The Westerplatte defenders became national heroes for their steadfast defense of Polish sovereignty and their resistance against the invading forces.
Today, Westerplatte is a national monument and a place of remembrance, with a memorial honoring the Polish soldiers who fought there.
