Six people have been killed and 16 others injured in a suspected far-right shooting in Kraków, Poland, with three additional bodies discovered at the suspect’s home.
The attack occurred on Saturday afternoon at Main Market Square, a popular tourist attraction in the historic centre of Poland’s second-largest city.
Police said the 25-year-old suspect drove into the square shortly before 15:00 local time and opened fire randomly at people.
The victims comprised four women and two men. Three were Polish, one was British, while the identities of the remaining two have not been established.
Among the 16 injured are five foreign nationals from Austria, Germany, Portugal, Russia and Britain. Two police officers were also wounded, with one reportedly fighting for his life.
The suspect, a Polish national described by a government minister as an ultra-nationalist, was equipped with military-style weapons and tactical clothing during the attack.
Police shot and arrested him after pursuing his vehicle, which eventually crashed. He remains in hospital after undergoing surgery.
Following the incident, counter-terrorism police searched the suspect’s home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, about 200 kilometres from Kraków, where they discovered three additional bodies.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said there were “strong indications” that the two women and one man found dead were immediate family members of the suspect.
Tusk described the incident as an unprecedented act of terrorism in Poland.
“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,” he said.
Poland’s Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said preliminary findings suggested the suspect was influenced by far-right ideology.
“everything suggests that he was fascinated by far-right ideologies” and held “ultra-nationalist views”, Kierwiński said.
The attack lasted approximately three minutes, with footage showing the suspect’s vehicle speeding through the square as gunshots rang out and people fled for safety.
Bullets shattered shop windows, while a tram was also shot at during the shooting. Images from the scene showed overturned tables and personal belongings scattered across the square.
Armed police officers pursued the suspect’s vehicle before it crashed, leading to a gunfight and his eventual arrest.
Two police officers were injured during the operation. Tusk later identified them as Senior Constable Jakub Kulik and Senior Constable Artur Morański, saying they had “saved many lives” and describing them as “true heroes”.
Authorities also discovered additional weapons and ammunition in a vehicle belonging to the suspect.
Tusk vowed that any “possible supporters of the perpetrator” would be detained and appealed to members of the public to provide information.
The shooting prompted a heightened security presence across Kraków, while security measures were also strengthened in Warsaw and other parts of the country.
Authorities have declared a period of mourning in Kraków until November 11.
Reacting to the attack, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed shock and condolences to the victims and their families.
“I’m shocked and saddened by the appalling shooting in Kraków today.”
“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,” he added.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the incident as a “tragedy that will be felt far beyond Poland”.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also said the UK government “deeply mourns” those killed in the attack.
“All of my deepest condolences go to the families of the victims,” he added.
Witnesses described scenes of panic and confusion as the shooting unfolded.
Cezary, a 24-year-old Polish university student in Kraków, said he initially did not realise the loud bangs were gunshots until he saw four bodies lying in the street.
“We were still hearing gunshots, a lot of people were screaming,” he said, adding that he saw someone attempting to resuscitate a bloodied victim.
A British tourist, Caitlin Shasby, from Newcastle, said she heard gunfire from her hotel room and was instructed to remain indoors as police barricaded nearby streets.
Another witness told Polish news website Interia: “I saw shots being fired from the driver’s side window and smoke was coming out.
“I ran to the police station in the main market square – when I burst inside, it was full of people hiding on the floor.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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