Krakow Mass Shooter Dies After Killing Six in Square
The 24-year-old suspect was shot by police during the Saturday attack that left 15 others wounded.
By Thabo Hoffmann ·
A 24-year-old man from Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski died at a hospital on Monday morning. Police confirmed his death after he was shot and arrested during a mass shooting at a major tourist square in Krakow, Poland.
The incident occurred on Saturday and stands as the deadliest mass shooting in Poland since Communism ended in 1989. The gunman killed six people and injured 15 others. He drove his car through the historic main square in the Old Town to start the attack. Officers stopped him within minutes of him opening fire.
Polish government officials indicated the shooter may have been motivated by far-right ideology. Karolina Galecka, a spokeswoman for the interior ministry, told radio TOK FM that specialists are analyzing emblems and patches found on the perpetrator’s clothing. She declined to provide further details while the investigation remains active.
Authorities made a grim discovery at the suspect’s family home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski. They found the bodies of his father, mother, and sister. Preliminary findings suggest the three family members died from gunshot wounds. The town has a population of just under 60,000 and is located in southeastern Poland.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the event as an act of terrorism. This classification marks the severity of the attack and its impact on the national psyche.
Local residents and mourners gathered at the square on Sunday night. They placed candles and flowers around the bullet holes visible in the pavement. Maciej Sikorski, a local resident, spoke to The Associated Press about his presence at the scene. He stated that it is easy to stop living normally and simply vegetate in fear, an outcome he was determined to avoid.
