Poland began two days of mourning on Sunday following a mass shooting in Krakow’s main market square that left six people dead and 15 others wounded. The attack took place on Saturday in the Rynek Glowny area located within the Old Town of Poland’s second-largest city.
Investigation and Suspect Profile
Poland’s national prosecutor’s office announced an investigation into the incident, classifying the event as a suspected terrorist offense. Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the violence as an act of far-right terrorism, though officials have not yet established a specific motive.
The 24-year-old suspect wore military fatigues during the attack and randomly shot at people while moving around the square. Police shot and wounded the suspect, who remains hospitalized in critical condition. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski stated that the man held right-wing extremist and ultranationalist views, noting that everything points to a fascination with far-right ideologies.
Victims and Additional Discoveries
Authorities confirmed that a British national was among those killed in the square, while the injured included citizens from Austria, the United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal, and Russia. Two police officers sustained injuries while confronting the gunman, prompting an appeal for blood donations for one officer in critical condition. The Krakow Carriage Driver’s Association reported that several horse-drawn carriage drivers suffered serious injuries.
Police discovered three additional bodies at the suspect’s family home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, located about 150 kilometers northeast of Krakow, identifying them as his sister, mother, and father. Investigators seized several firearms from the apartment. According to media reports, the suspect had no prior criminal record and belonged to a shooting club alongside his father.
Mourners gathered in the square to leave candles for the victims, while black flags and national flags adorned with black ribbons appeared throughout the city as investigators continued working in the partially sealed-off area.
