Six dead in Krakow shooting as Poland declares two-day mourning period

Residents of Krakow face two days of national mourning after an armed man killed six people in the city center. The attack occurred on Saturday, and Polish authorities have confirmed that the victim count includes five people shot in the historic square and three relatives found at the suspect's home.

The 24-year-old Polish national, identified as Michal O, fired his weapon in the heart of the old town. Police reported that one of the five people killed in the square was a British citizen. Fifteen others were wounded, including nationals from Austria, Germany, Portugal, and Russia, as well as a second British national. The suspect sustained his own injuries during the police response and remains in critical condition at a hospital.

Three additional bodies were discovered at the suspect's residence in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, a town located approximately 150 kilometers northeast of Krakow. Police confirmed that these individuals were the suspect's parents and a sister. Daniel Prokopowicz, a spokesperson for the National Prosecutor's Office, stated it is highly likely that one person was responsible for both sets of killings.

The prosecutor's office opened a terrorism investigation into the incident on Sunday. The probe examines the use of a firearm to kill six people and attempt the murder of others, including police officers. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski noted that the attacker was influenced by far-right and ultranationalist ideologies. Media reports indicate the suspect held a valid gun license and had no previous criminal record.

The main market square in Krakow remained closed to the public on Sunday, with police permitting only essential service workers to enter. Nearby cafes stayed shuttered, and flags at the city hall flew at half-mast. Mourners placed candles at various sites around the square. The hourly trumpet call from St. Mary's church was suspended for 12 hours, a commemorative measure not used since 1939.