Six people have been killed and 16 others injured after a gunman suspected of holding far-right extremist views opened fire in the centre of Krakow, Poland’s second-largest city.
According to the BBC, the attack, which occurred on Saturday afternoon at the city’s popular Main Market Square, also left two police officers injured, one of them critically.
According to reports, the suspect, a 25-year-old Polish man, drove into the historic square shortly before 3pm local time and opened fire randomly on people.
Four women and two men were killed in the attack. Three of the victims were Polish nationals, one was British, while the identities of the remaining two had yet to be established.
Among the 16 injured were five foreign nationals from Austria, Germany, Portugal, Russia and the United Kingdom.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk disclosed that three additional bodies were discovered at the suspect’s residence in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, about 200 kilometres from Krakow, during a search by counter-terrorism officers.
He said there were strong indications that the victims, comprising two women and a man, were immediate family members of the suspect.
Tusk described the incident as an unprecedented act of terrorism in Poland, saying the country had not previously experienced such a drastic attack.
The suspect, who was reportedly dressed in military-style tactical gear and armed with military-grade weapons, was arrested after a gun battle with pursuing police officers.
He remains in hospital following surgery.
Poland’s Interior Minister, Marcin Kierwiński, said preliminary findings suggested that the suspect was fascinated by far-right ideologies and held ultra-nationalist views.
Authorities also recovered additional weapons and ammunition from a vehicle belonging to the suspect.
Police said the shooting lasted approximately three minutes, during which bullets shattered shop windows and struck a tram.
Eyewitness accounts described scenes of panic as residents and tourists fled for safety amid continuous gunfire.
A 24-year-old university student, Cezary, said he initially did not realise the loud bangs were gunshots until he saw four bodies lying on the street.
He said people were screaming while gunfire continued, adding that he witnessed an individual attempting to resuscitate a bloodied victim.
Another witness, Caitlin Shasby, from Newcastle, United Kingdom, said she heard gunshots from her hotel room and was instructed to remain indoors as police secured the surrounding streets.
Footage of the incident showed armed officers pursuing the suspect’s vehicle before it crashed, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
Polish authorities identified the injured officers as Senior Constables Jakub Kulik and Artur Morański. Tusk praised their response, saying they had saved many lives and describing them as heroes.
One of the officers was reported to be fighting for his life, while the other was expected to recover.
Following the attack, security was heightened across Krakow, with an increased armed police presence also reported in the capital, Warsaw, and other parts of the country.
The city authorities have declared a period of mourning in Krakow until November 11.
Tusk also vowed that anyone suspected of supporting the attacker would be arrested, while appealing to members of the public to provide information that could assist the investigation.
Reacting to the incident, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed shock and sadness, extending condolences to the families of those killed and solidarity with the Polish people.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also described the incident as a tragedy whose impact would be felt beyond Poland.
The British Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, said his government deeply mourned the victims and extended condolences to their families.
The UK Foreign Office subsequently updated its travel advice for Poland, urging British nationals in the affected area to follow instructions from local authorities.
