A 24-year-old gunman who carried out a deadly mass shooting in central Krakow has died from his injuries in a hospital, according to official statements from Polish police. The suspect, who authorities indicated was driven by ultra-nationalist and far-right ideologies, opened fire in the city's historic center over the weekend, leaving multiple people dead and triggering a major emergency response across Poland's second-largest city.
Rapid Police Response and Gunman's Death
The violent encounter unfolded rapidly on Saturday afternoon shortly before 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT) in the crowded Main Market Square of Krakow. Armed law enforcement officers rushed to the scene immediately upon receiving reports of active gunfire. Within three minutes of the assault commencing, officers engaged the gunman in a direct firefight and shot him, effectively halting further casualties in the crowded public area.
The wounded suspect was taken into custody and transported to a medical facility for urgent treatment under heavy police guard. Polish police confirmed that the 24-year-old suspect succumbed to his gunshot wounds early on Monday morning. Authorities identified him as a Polish national, though his name has not been officially released to the public.
Carnage at Main Market Square and Identification of Victims
The shooting spree in the bustling plaza resulted in six fatalities, comprising four women and two men. Polish authorities confirmed that four of the victims were Polish citizens, while the other two deceased individuals were foreign nationals, including a British citizen and an Austrian woman.
In addition to the fatalities, sixteen individuals sustained injuries and required hospital care. Among those hospitalized were five foreign nationals hailing from Austria, Britain, Germany, Portugal, and Russia, alongside two police officers who responded to the crisis. Polish media reported that the attacker possessed a valid firearms permit and may have retrieved the weapons used in the attack from his family home prior to heading to the city center.
Discovery of Three Family Members at Suspect's House
Following the public shooting, law enforcement officers conducted a thorough search of the suspect's residence. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk revealed that investigators discovered three additional bodies during their search of the gunman's house, consisting of two women and one man.
On Sunday, Polish police formally confirmed the identities of the three domestic victims as the suspect's 53-year-old father, 52-year-old mother, and 21-year-old sister. Investigators suspect that the assailant launched his violent streak at home before traveling to Krakow's Main Market Square to commit the mass shooting.
Heroic Rescue Efforts by Off-Duty Doctors
Amid the panic, extraordinary heroic efforts emerged from bystanders. Two medical surgeons who happened to be dining at a restaurant near the Main Market Square when the shooting erupted rushed directly into the danger zone to administer first aid to the wounded, including the injured police officers and the attacker himself.
Professor Michal Pędziwiatr explained that in the absence of immediate professional medical personnel or available ambulances at the exact moment of the attack, he and his colleague decided to take immediate action. His colleague, identified as Dr Mateusz Wierdak, used his bare hands to apply pressure and stem severe bleeding from one of the critically wounded police officers until emergency medical services arrived. Authorities reported on Sunday that both injured police officers had successfully emerged from comas.
National Mourning and International Reactions
In response to the tragic incident, Poland declared two days of national mourning to honor the victims. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited Krakow and stated, "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."
International leaders also expressed solidarity. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham offered his condolences, stating, "My thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their lives, everyone injured and all those affected by this senseless violence. The United Kingdom stands in solidarity with the people of Poland." Security cordons around the Main Market Square were lifted on Sunday evening, allowing the public area to reopen.
