Polish authorities confirmed on Monday that the 24-year-old man suspected of killing six people in central Krakow has died in hospital. The suspect was injured during a gunfight with armed officers shortly after the attack began in the city’s Main Market Square on Saturday.
Deadly Attack in Main Market Square
The shooting began shortly before 15:00 local time on Saturday in the busy tourist hub of Krakow, Poland’s second-largest city. According to police, the suspect opened fire on pedestrians before being engaged by armed officers. Officials stated that the suspect was shot within three minutes of the attack starting, which prevented a larger massacre.
Six victims have been confirmed dead. The group includes four Polish nationals, one British citizen, and an Austrian woman. Krakow police identified the attacker as a Polish man but did not release his name. Early investigations by a government minister indicated the suspect was inspired by far-right ideologies and described him as an ultra-nationalist.
Witnesses described scenes of panic and confusion as the gunfire erupted. Ruby Catherine Warren, a visitor from London, told reporters she yelled at her friends to run and they sprinted for their lives until they found shelter in a hotel. Tom Brook, another witness, said he heard multiple gunshots while inside a nearby McDonald’s and later saw paramedics working on a victim and a body covered in foil blankets.
Family Members Also Found Dead
Following the attack, police searched the suspect’s family home. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that three bodies were found at the residence. On Sunday, Polish police confirmed these victims were the suspect’s parents and sister. The deceased were identified as his 53-year-old father, 52-year-old mother, and 21-year-old sister.
Polish media reported that the suspect held a firearms permit and may have obtained the weapons from his family home. The interior ministry stated that sixteen people were taken to hospital after the shooting, including five foreigners from Austria, Britain, Germany, Portugal, and Russia, as well as two police officers.
Medical Response and Aftermath
The immediate response to the crisis was led by medical professionals who happened to be nearby. Two surgeons, Professor Michal Pędziwiatr and Dr Mateusz Wierdak, were eating near the square when the shooting started. They rushed to the scene to treat both the attacker and the injured police officers, noting that no ambulances or other medical professionals were immediately available.
Professor Pędziwiatr told the BBC that his colleague used his hand to stem the bleeding from the most severely injured policeman. This action allowed time for an ambulance to arrive and save the officer’s life. Both injured officers were reported to have emerged from comas by Sunday.
Prime Minister Tusk visited Krakow and declared the country would enter two days of national mourning. He described the event as a drastic case of terrorism, stating, “Until now in Poland we haven’t had such drastic cases of terrorism… that’s what we have to call this cruel attack on people’s lives here in Krakow.”
The Main Market Square reopened on Sunday evening after security cordons were lifted. International leaders, including UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, expressed shock and sadness, offering solidarity to the people of Poland.
Source: BBC
