Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced in the Sejm that on Tuesday he will issue an order introducing the third alert level CHARLIE “on specific railway lines“. This is related to Saturday's terrorist act on the track near the Mika station (Garwoliński County, Masovian Voivodeship) between Warsaw and Lublin.
According to information from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, alert levels pursuant to the Act on Anti-Terrorist Activities were introduced in our country during international events, and later in connection with the threat resulting from Russia's attack on Ukraine.
ALFA, BRAVO, CHARLIE and DELTA. Four levels of alert in Poland
The system is of four stages – ALFA, BRAVO, CHARLIE and DELTA (the highest) – and the same for cyberspace – ALFA-CRP, BRAVO-CRP, CHARLIE-CRP and DELTA-CRP. Currently, the BRAVO and BRAVO-CRP alert levels apply throughout the country until November 30 and the same for Polish energy infrastructure located outside the country.
Alert levels are primarily a signal for public services and administration to be particularly vigilant.
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Alert levels are introduced, changed and revoked, by way of an order, by the Prime Minister, after consulting the minister responsible for internal affairs and the head of the Internal Security Agency, and in urgent cases – by the minister responsible for internal affairs, after seeking the opinion of the head of the Internal Security Agency, immediately informing the Prime Minister thereof.
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The tasks of state authorities related to the introduction of CRP alert levels are specified in the Regulation of the Prime Minister of July 25, 2016 on the scope of projects carried out in individual CRP alert levels and levels.
ALFA, BRAVO, CHARLIE and DELTA. History of introducing alert levels in Poland
For the first time – from July 7 to 10, 2016, in connection with the NATO summit in Warsaw – the first ALFA alert level was introduced.
From July 20 to August 1, 2016, the first ALFA alert level was in force throughout the territory of the Republic of Poland, and the second BRAVO-CRP alert level in cyberspace in connection with the 31st World Youth Day in Krakow.
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During the world climate summit taking place in Katowice – the 24th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24) – the first ALFA alert level was introduced in the Silesian Voivodeship and the city of Krakow. It was valid from November 26 to December 15, 2018.
From February 11 to 15, 2019, the first ALFA alert level and the second BRAVO-CRP alert level were introduced in Warsaw, valid during the ministerial meeting on security in the Middle East.
During the 2019 European Parliament elections, the second BRAVO-CRP alert level was introduced throughout the territory of the Republic of Poland, which was valid from May 23 to 27, 2019.
The first ALFA alert level and the first ALFA-CRP alert level were also in force from August 28, 2019 to September 3, 2019 – they were introduced throughout the territory of the Republic of Poland in connection with the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II.
Concerning the protection of cyberspace, the second BRAVO-CRP alert level was introduced in the territory of the Republic of Poland in connection with the elections to the Sejm and Senate in 2019 – it was valid from October 10 to 14, 2019.
The second BRAVO alert level in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, and the first ALFA alert level and the first ALFA-CRP alert level in the remaining territory of the Republic of Poland were introduced throughout the territory of the Republic of Poland during the celebrations commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. These alert levels were in force from January 23 to 29, 2020.
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During the 2020 presidential elections, the second BRAVO-CRP alert level was in force from June 26 to 29, 2020 and from July 10 to 13, 2020 during their second round throughout the territory of the Republic of Poland.
In connection with the UN Digital Summit in Katowice (UN Internet Governance Forum 2021), the first ALFA-CRP alert level was in force from December 5 to 10, 2021 throughout the territory of the Republic of Poland.
The war changed everything. Poland introduces higher alert levels
In its information on the current alert levels, the Ministry recalled that after the occurrence of an increased threat of a terrorist nature resulting from the geopolitical situation in the region, including an armed attack on Ukraine and hybrid actions by Russia and Belarus – as well as a potential risk to the security of ICT systems given the tense situation in the region from January 18 to 23 and from February 15 to 21, 2022 – the first ALFA-CRP alert level was introduced throughout the country.
It was increased just before Russia's aggression against Ukraine – then the third alert level, CHARLIE-CRP, was introduced throughout the territory of the Republic of Poland, effective from February 21, 2022, from 21.00 until February 29, 2024. Then it was lowered to the second alert level BRAVO-CRP – valid from March 1, 2024 to November 30, 2025, but the current period will probably be extended.
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In connection with the attack, the second BRAVO alert level was also introduced, which was valid from February 28, 2022 to April 15, 2022 in the province. Lublin and Podkarpackie, and later and currently not only on the entire territory of the Republic of Poland, but also on the Polish energy infrastructure located outside the country. For her, the second BRAVO alert level is valid from October 6, 2022. These levels are also valid until November 30, 2025, but the Prime Minister will probably also extend them.
