Krakow, Nov. 8: Poland was in shock after a gunman killed six people and injured 15 others in a shooting at Krakow’s Main Square on Saturday. Police shot and wounded the 24-year-old suspect during the incident.
Authorities described the attacker as a Polish national with radical, ultranationalist and far-right views. However, they have not disclosed any links to an organised extremist group.
Prosecutors have launched an investigation into the shooting as a terrorist offence. Police also discovered the bodies of the suspect’s parents and sister at their family home.
The attack took place in Krakow’s historic Old Town, a popular tourist destination. The suspect reportedly drove into the square wearing military-style clothing and a bulletproof vest before opening fire.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as people rushed into nearby shops and streets for safety. British visitor Neil Thaxton said shop employees sheltered him and his wife inside a gift shop.
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Another visitor, Marie-Ange Collaer, said her family ran for safety and managed to escape the gunfire. Videos shared on social media showed people fleeing the area and emergency responders assisting victims.
Krakow Shooting Investigation Focuses on Suspect’s Background
Four women and two men died in the attack. Regional Governor Krzysztof Kleczar said four victims were Polish nationals. A British man was also among the dead, while officials had not identified the nationality of the sixth victim.
The injured included nationals from Britain, Portugal, Russia, Germany and Austria. Two police officers who confronted the attacker also sustained gunshot injuries.
One officer remained in a coma, while the other had regained consciousness, officials said on Sunday. Authorities appealed for blood donations to support the seriously injured officer.
Meanwhile, police identified three bodies found at the suspect’s home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski. They belonged to his parents and sister, who apparently died from gunshot wounds.
Investigators recovered four firearms from the attack scene and the suspect’s vehicle. They also seized seven weapons from the family home, taking the total recovery to 11 firearms.
The suspect’s father legally owned more than 10 guns. A shooting club where the suspect reportedly trained said it offered only static target shooting. It denied providing him with tactical or combat shooting training.
The attack also interrupted a longstanding Krakow tradition. Authorities suspended the hourly five-note trumpet call from St. Mary’s Basilica overnight in tribute to the victims. It was reportedly the first missed performance since World War II.
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Mass shootings remain uncommon in Poland, a country of around 37 million people. Researchers have compared the incident to far-right lone-wolf attacks reported elsewhere in Europe.
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