Krakow mass shooting leaves six dead as Poland mourns
A 24-year-old man with far-right views killed six people and wounded 15 in Main Square, prompting a national day of mourning and a terrorism probe.
By Jillian Foster ·
Poland entered two days of national mourning on Sunday following a mass shooting in Krakow that killed six people and wounded 15 others. The attack took place in Main Square, a central tourist area in the city's Old Town. A 24-year-old Polish man, described by officials as having far-right views, was the alleged shooter. Police shot and wounded the suspect during the incident.
The Krakow attack occurred on Saturday. Prosecutors announced on Sunday that they opened an investigation for murder and attempted murder. They stated the act constituted a terrorist offense. The defense minister characterized the event as an act of terror. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński told reporters that the suspect held very radical and ultranationalistic views. He said everything indicates the man was fascinated by far-right ideologies.
Among the six people killed were four women and two men. Regional Governor Krzysztof Jan Klęczar identified three Polish women and one Polish man as victims. A man from the United Kingdom and a woman from an unidentified foreign country also died in the shooting. Authorities found the bodies of the shooter's father, mother, and sister at his home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, a city approximately 93 miles northeast of Krakow. Officials said the family members likely died from gunshot wounds.
Two police officers intervened to stop the gunman. Both officers remain in the hospital. One is still in a coma, while the other has woken up, according to Klęczar. Officials issued an appeal for blood donations for the more seriously injured officer. Klęczar noted that the efficient intervention of the two officers likely prevented a higher number of victims.
Local officials in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski reported seizing seven weapons from the family home. This brings the total number of recovered guns to 11. The shooter's father legally owned more than 10 guns, and the attacker also owned firearms. Four weapons were found in the possession of the man in Krakow or in his car.
The traditional St. Mary's Trumpet Call, a five-note melody played hourly from the tower of St. Mary's Basilica, was paused overnight. This marked the first time the call has been missed since World War II. Main Square remained partially closed on Sunday morning as investigators continued their work. European flags flew at half-mast outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels.
Weronika Filar, a 27-year-old Krakow resident, told Agence France-Presse that she was devastated by the event. She described the square as one of the safest places on Earth and said the city would never be the same. Krzysztof Stepien, a 28-year-old part-time city guide, noted that while Europe has seen similar incidents, nothing like this had ever happened in Krakow. He expressed hope that it would never happen again.
Mass shootings are uncommon in Poland, but three school attacks in the Mazovia province occurred in mid-October within four days. Those attacks left one person dead and many wounded. Kacper Rekawek, a senior researcher at the International Center for Counterterrorism in The Hague, said the Krakow shooter's gear and look resembled those of other extreme-right lone actors in Europe. He stated that these types of attacks have now become successful in Poland.
