Poland began a two‑day period of national mourning on Sunday following a tragic mass shooting in Krakow’s historic Main Square. The attacker, a 24‑year‑old man identified as holding far‑right, ultranationalist views, drove a vehicle into the crowded square, exited the car and opened fire, killing six people and wounding 15 others.
Victims and response
Four women and two men lost their lives. Among the deceased were three Polish nationals, a British man and a woman from an unidentified foreign country. The wounded include five non‑Poles from the United Kingdom, Portugal, Russia, Germany and Austria.
Two police officers who confronted the shooter were praised for their heroic actions. One officer remains in a coma, while the other has awakened. Authorities have appealed for blood donations to aid the seriously injured officer.
Investigation findings
Police discovered three additional bodies at the suspect’s family home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, approximately 150 km northeast of Krakow. The victims were identified as the attacker’s sister, mother and father, all apparently killed by gunshot wounds.
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński described the perpetrator’s ideology as “very radical” and “ultranationalistic,” noting his fascination with far‑right ideas. The attacker’s military‑style gear and firearms resembled those used by other extremist lone actors across Europe, according to senior researcher Kacper Rekawek of the International Center for Counterterrorism in The Hague.
Poland’s gun landscape
Poland’s gun‑ownership rate remains low, with about 411,000 legal gun permits in a population of 37 million. Interest in firearms has been rising, but mass shootings remain rare. The recent incident follows a spate of school attacks in the Mazovia region earlier this month, which involved knives and other sharp objects.
Ongoing efforts
Authorities continue to investigate the motives and connections of the attacker while the city’s Main Square remains partially closed. The nation’s leaders have called for unity and prayer as families mourn their loved ones.
Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.
