Varso Tower climber detained on Warsaw rooftop

13 September 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

A Varso Tower climber reached the roof on Sept 13 and was detained by police. Emergency services secured the scene and used rescue cushions.

A 26-year-old man of French origin climbed the facade of Varso Tower without safety gear on Sunday, September 13. The Varso Tower climber reached the roof and met waiting police and specialist firefighters.

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What happened on the morning of September 13

Authorities received a report about a person climbing the exterior of the skyscraper at about 7:40. Police and firefighters went to the scene immediately. Fire crews secured the building perimeter. They also laid out two rescue cushions, called skokochrony in Polish. On the roof police officers waited together with members of a specialised high-altitude rescue team. The climber arrived and officers detained him without any injuries. They then handed him over to Wola police for processing.

Varso Tower climber: building details and previous incidents

Varso Tower sits at the junction of Chmielna Street and aleja Jana Pawła II in central Warsaw. The tower has 53 floors and a roof height of 230 metres. With its spire it reaches 310 metres. That makes it the tallest building in Poland and the European Union. This was not the first unauthorised ascent of the facade. In September 2025 a 24-year-old Frenchman, Titouan Leduc, climbed to the roof and later faced charges for trespass. In June 2026 a 37-year-old man, Marcin Banot, climbed the building and also faced such charges.

Official response and legal follow-up

Officers from the capital police noted the detainee is now in the custody of Wola police. Mł. asp. Bartłomiej Śniadała of Komenda Stołeczna Policji confirmed the handover. Police typically question suspects and decide on charges or administrative measures. In past cases authorities charged climbers with naruszenia miru domowego, a Polish offence roughly corresponding to trespass. The legal process may involve court appearances or fines.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: Urban climbing carries serious risks and consequences in Poland. Emergency services treat such incidents as public safety hazards. Police may detain climbers and press charges for trespass. If you live here you should know basic Polish terms. A “mandat” means a fine. “PESEL” is the national ID number. “ZUS” and “NFZ” refer to social insurance and health insurance systems. Avoid attempting climbs on public or private structures. Contact local emergency services by calling the national emergency number if you see a danger.

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