On a Saturday in the old marketplace of Krakow, a place where visitors come to walk among centuries of stone and song, a young man in military fatigues turned a vehicle into an instrument of random death. Six people lost their lives and fifteen more were wounded, among them a British citizen and several horse-drawn carriage drivers whose livelihoods are tied to that square. The nation now pauses for two days of mourning, while investigators try to understand what fascination with far-right ideology led a man to such an act, and why his own family lay dead in a home more than a hundred miles aw
Poland Mourns Six Dead After Gunman Opens Fire in Krakow's Main Square; Terror Probe Opened
Six people were killed and 15 wounded in the square, including a British national, and the suspect's father, mother and sister were found dead at the family home.
Black flags and candles in a square built for visitors
Mark
Six dead in the square, and three more at a home 150 kilometers away. How are those connected?
Mimi
Police say the three bodies at the suspect's apartment were his father, mother and sister. That's what's confirmed. How and when they died hasn't been laid out in what we have.
Luke
Right, and I'd keep the two scenes separate in our heads. Nothing here says when the family died or who is responsible. The link is that they were his relatives.
Mark
The prime minister called it far-right terrorism. Is that settled?
Mimi
The prosecutor's office opened a probe into a suspected terrorist offense, and the interior minister said everything indicates he was fascinated by far-right ideologies.
Luke
Notice the wording, though. Suspected offense, and fascination indicated. Authorities say he held ultranationalist views, but they haven't offered a motive. Those are different things.
Mark
What do we know about the suspect himself?
Mimi
He's 24, was in military fatigues, and allegedly fired at random from a vehicle. He has no known criminal record, per Polish media, and he and his father belonged to a shooting club.
Luke
The record and club details are media reports, not official statements. And he's in critical condition, so there's a real chance some answers come slowly.
Mark
Who was hurt besides the dead?
Mimi
Fifteen wounded, from several countries, plus two police officers and several carriage drivers.
Luke
The carriage driver detail comes from their association via PAP, and 'several seriously injured' is not a precise count. We don't have a full breakdown of the wounded beyond that.
El Pulso
- A gunman drove around Krakow's Main Square firing at random, and the Old Town became a scene of panic and blood.
- Six people are dead and fifteen wounded, with victims from Britain, Austria, Germany, Portugal and Russia among them.
- The suspect's father, mother and sister were found dead at the family home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, deepening the shock.
- Police shot and wounded the suspect, and two officers are in hospital, one in critical condition needing blood donations.
- Prime Minister Tusk has called it far-right terrorism, and a national prosecutor's investigation is now racing to establish a motive.
On a Saturday in the old marketplace of Krakow, a place where visitors come to walk among centuries of stone and song, a young man in military fatigues turned a vehicle into an instrument of random death. Six people lost their lives and fifteen more were wounded, among them a British citizen and several horse-drawn carriage drivers whose livelihoods are tied to that square. The nation now pauses for two days of mourning, while investigators try to understand what fascination with far-right ideology led a man to such an act, and why his own family lay dead in a home more than a hundred miles away.
Poland entered two days of national mourning on Sunday, a day after a gunman killed six people and wounded fifteen in the Main Square of Krakow. The square, the heart of the old city and one of the country's most beloved tourist sites, was still partly closed as investigators worked. Candles had been left among the cobblestones, black flags hung across the city, and national flags were fitted with black ribbons.
Authorities say the suspect is 24 years old and was dressed in military fatigues. He is accused of firing at people at random while driving around the square. Police wounded him during the confrontation, and he is now in critical condition in hospital. Two officers were also injured as they confronted him, one of whom needs urgent blood donations.
The victims came from several countries. One of the dead was a British national, and the wounded included citizens of Austria, the United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal and Russia. Several horse-drawn carriage drivers, who work the square every day, were seriously hurt.
On Sunday, police confirmed that three bodies found at the suspect's home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski belonged to his father, mother and sister. Officers seized several firearms there. The suspect had no prior criminal record, though he and his father were reportedly members of a shooting club.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk has described the attack as far-right terrorism, and Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said the suspect appeared fascinated by far-right ideologies. Authorities describe him as holding right-wing extremist and ultranationalist views, but no specific motive has yet been established. The national prosecutor's office has opened a terrorism investigation, and what it learns will depend heavily on the suspect's condition and on the evidence left behind.
Poland went into two days of national mourning on Sunday, one day after a gunman killed six people and wounded 15 others in the Main Square of Krakow, the Old Town marketplace that is among the country's best-known tourist destinations. Krakow is Poland's second-largest city.
By Sunday morning the square was still partly closed off while investigators worked. Mourners had left candles there for the victims. Black flags hung around the city, and Polish national flags were fitted with black ribbons.
According to authorities, the suspect is 24 years old and was wearing military fatigues. He is accused of firing at people at random while driving around the square. Police wounded him during the confrontation, and he is now in critical condition in hospital. Two police officers were also wounded as they confronted him and are being treated in hospital. Officials have appealed for blood donations for one of them, who is in critical condition.
The casualties came from several countries. One of the dead was a British national. Among the wounded were citizens of Austria, the United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal and Russia, according to authorities. The Krakow Carriage Driver's Association told the Polish news agency PAP that several horse-drawn carriage drivers were seriously injured.
On Sunday, police said that three bodies found at the suspect's home belonged to his father, mother and sister. The family home is in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, about 150 kilometers (93 miles) northeast of Krakow. Police seized several firearms from the apartment. Polish media reports say the suspect had no prior criminal record, and that he and his father were members of a shooting club.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk has described the attack as an act of far-right terrorism. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski told a news conference that everything indicates the suspect was fascinated by far-right ideologies. Authorities say he held right-wing extremist and ultranationalist views. They have not, however, put forward a specific motive.
The national prosecutor's office has opened an investigation, treating the shooting as a suspected terrorist offense. With the suspect gravely injured, what investigators learn about his ideology, his preparations and the deaths of his family will depend on the inquiry and on his condition.
Citas Notables
Everything indicates that he was fascinated by far-right ideologies.— Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski
Prime Minister Donald Tusk labeled the attack an act of far-right terrorism.— Paraphrase of Polish PM Donald Tusk
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