Poland is in national mourning after a gunman opened fire in Kraków’s historic Main Market Square on Saturday afternoon, killing six people and wounding at least 16 others in the country’s deadliest mass shooting in years.
The attack began around 3 p.m. local time on Saturday, November 7, when a 24-year-old Polish man drove into the crowded UNESCO-listed square in the heart of the old town. Wearing military-style clothing and a ballistic vest, he opened fire at random from the vehicle before police wounded and detained him after an exchange of gunfire. Two police officers were among the injured; one remains in serious condition.
Authorities later found the bodies of the suspect’s father (53), mother (52), and sister (21) at the family home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, roughly 200 km northeast of Kraków. Prosecutors say it is highly likely the same person carried out both sets of killings. Multiple firearms and a significant quantity of ammunition were recovered from the property.
Of the six people killed in the square, one has been identified as a British citizen. The wounded include nationals from Britain, Austria, Germany, Portugal, and Russia, in addition to Polish victims. Several remain hospitalized.
Polish prosecutors announced on Sunday that they have opened a formal terrorism investigation into the killings and attempted murders, including of police officers. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński stated that the suspect held “very radical” and “ultra-nationalistic” views and was fascinated by far-right ideologies. Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the attack as an act of terror.
The suspect, whose name has not been officially released, underwent multiple surgeries and remains in critical condition under heavy police guard. National mourning is underway, and security has been increased around major sites.
Online, the official characterization of the attacker’s politics has already sparked debate, with some users circulating conflicting claims about his background and affiliations. Authorities have not released detailed findings on motive beyond the statements from the interior minister and prosecutors.
The attack has shaken Poland, a country with comparatively low rates of gun violence. The investigation remains ongoing.
SOURCES: The Guardian, Reuters, BBC, Euronews, Notes from Poland, CNN.
