A 25-year-old Polish man drove into Krakow's Main Square on Saturday and opened fire with an automatic weapon, killing six people and injuring 15 others. The attack, described as an act of terror by Poland's defense minister, occurred in the heart of Krakow's Old Town, a major tourist hub. Authorities said the attacker holds ultranationalistic views and was fascinated by far-right ideologies. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński stated that the man's views were very radical.
The attacker drove to multiple spots in the square, opening fire at each stop, and wore military-style fatigues and a bulletproof vest. He used a military-type long gun and police found other weapons and ammunition in his car. Krakow police spokesperson Katarzyna Cisło said the gunman kept firing at police even after being shot himself. The attacker engaged in a wild ride around Main Square, causing people to be wounded at several locations.
Authorities identified four women and two men as victims, with at least three of the women being Polish and one a U.K. citizen. Police were still trying to identify the other two people killed. A total of 13 people were hospitalized in serious condition, and two police officers were seriously injured. Five non-Poles were also injured, police commander Marek Boroń said.
Hours after the attack, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that authorities found the bodies of three of the suspect's close family members inside his home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski. The suspect's motives and possible connections to extremist groups are being investigated. Kierwiński stated that the attack appears to have been carried out alone.
Krakow mayor Łukasz Gibała vowed that the city will remain open to visitors despite the tragedy and announced that the city will be in official mourning until Wednesday. The square will be closed temporarily for investigation and cleanup. Gibała said in a video posted on X that the square will belong to the people again.
Mass shootings are rare in Poland, but there has been a recent increase in gun ownership, with around 411,000 people holding gun permits in a population of 37 million. The Krakow attacker's military gear and overall look were similar to those of other extreme right lone actors committing attacks around Europe, said Kacper Rekawek, a senior researcher at the International Center for Counterterrorism.
In response to the attack, Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski announced increased security measures, including road barriers, along main streets in the old town in the Polish capital. The measures aim to prevent similar attacks and reassure the public. The investigation into the attack is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the suspect's motives and connections.
Key points
- The attacker held ultranationalistic views and was fascinated by far-right ideologies.
- The attack killed six people and injured 15 others, with 13 hospitalized in serious condition.
- The suspect's motives and possible connections to extremist groups are being investigated.
