Krakow Shooting Triggers Terrorism Probe
Polish prosecutors opened a formal inquiry into the attack that killed six people and left three family members dead at the suspect's home.
By Amir Navarro ·
The quiet streets of Krakow’s historic centre turned into a crime scene on Saturday as a lone gunman opened fire at random, killing six people and injuring 15 others. The violence shook Poland’s second-largest city, prompting Prime Minister Donald Tusk to label the assault an act of terrorism before the formal legal process began.
On Sunday, the National Prosecutor's Office confirmed the launch of a terrorism investigation. The office stated on social media that it was examining the killing of six individuals with a firearm and the attempted murder of numerous others, including police officers. The prosecutor’s statement defined the act as a terrorist offence, setting the legal framework for the ongoing inquiry.
The suspect, identified in Polish media as Michal O, is a 24-year-old Polish national. Authorities described him as a man with no previous criminal record who was fascinated by far-right ideologies. He belonged to a shooting club alongside his father. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski noted that police also found weapons in the suspect’s car. The gunman remains in hospital in critical condition after being wounded in a shootout with officers.
The attack took a darker turn when three additional bodies were discovered at the suspect’s home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, approximately 150 kilometres northeast of Krakow. Regional police confirmed the victims were the gunman’s parents and his sister. The deceased included a 53-year-old man and two women aged 52 and 21. Investigators said the bodies bore injuries preliminarily assessed as gunshot wounds and that seven firearms were seized from the flat.
Police details indicate the suspect abandoned his car at an intersection and began firing at responding officers. He was masked and dressed in military-style clothing, including a bullet-proof vest. Two officers were injured in the exchange. One officer, identified as Jakub Kulik, is in serious but stable condition. The interior ministry appealed for blood donors on his behalf, praising his decision to confront the armed attacker without hesitation.
A British national was among those killed in the shooting. The 15 wounded included citizens of Austria, Britain, Germany, Portugal, and Russia. The attack has since led to a city-wide atmosphere of shock and mourning. Warsaw declared two days of national mourning beginning Sunday. Black flags and Polish flags bearing black ribbons appeared across the city.
On Sunday morning, the attack site was cordoned off with red-and-white tape. Residents laid candles while police checked the bags of workers at nearby cafes. Most souvenir shops remained shut. Weronika Filar, 27, a resident who visited the scene, said she was absolutely devastated. She noted that Krakow is one of the safest places on Earth and added that the city will never be the same.
