KRAKOW: Poland has been left in shock after a mass shooting in the historic Main Market Square of Krakow killed six people and injured 16 others, in an attack allegedly carried out by a 24-year-old gunman suspected of being influenced by far-right ideology.
Police shot and arrested the suspect shortly after receiving reports of gunfire at around 3:00 pm on Saturday, November 7. Authorities said the attacker allegedly opened fire randomly from a vehicle, targeting people in one of Poland’s busiest tourist destinations.
According to Polish officials, the suspect was wearing military-style clothing and used an AR-15 rifle. Police also recovered additional weapons and ammunition from his vehicle. The alleged gunman, a Polish citizen, reportedly held a firearms licence.
Krakow Mass Shooting: Three More Bodies Discovered at Suspect’s Residence
Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that police discovered three additional bodies — two women and one man — at the suspect’s residence in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, approximately 200 kilometres north of Krakow.
Authorities suspect the deceased may be members of the gunman’s immediate family. Security agencies, including Poland’s Internal Security Agency and Military Counterintelligence Service, are assisting with the investigation.
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said initial indications suggested that far-right ideology may have influenced the attacker, although investigators are examining the motive.
Foreign Nationals Among Injured
Officials confirmed that five foreign nationals were among the 16 injured. One of the victims killed in the shooting was identified as a British citizen, while Portugal’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that a Portuguese woman was among those injured.
Two police officers were also wounded during the incident.
Poland Announces Two Days of National Mourning
President Karol Nawrocki announced national mourning for November 8 and 9, expressing condolences to the victims’ families and those injured.
Police officials praised the rapid response of officers, saying they confronted the attacker just three minutes after receiving the initial report, potentially preventing further casualties.
Also Read: Amitabh Bachchan Falls Ill, ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ Shooting Suspended for a Week
The shooting has sparked widespread shock across Poland, a country generally considered safer from mass shootings than several Western European nations. European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, also expressed condolences.
