Six killed as far-right gunman attacks Krakow square, triggering national mourning

Two days of national mourning began Sunday in Poland following a mass shooting that left six people dead and 15 others wounded in Krakow.

The attack occurred on Saturday in the city's Main Square, a central location in the Old Town that serves as a primary destination for visitors. A 24-year-old man drove his vehicle into the crowd before opening fire. Police officers shot and wounded the suspect, ending the assault. Authorities described the incident as an act of terror. By the evening, mourners had placed candles on the cobblestones to honor the victims. The square remained partially closed on Sunday morning while investigators processed the scene. St. Mary’s Trumpet Call, a traditional melody played hourly from the basilica tower, was paused overnight. It is the first time the call has been missed since World War II.

The timeline of the suspect’s actions extended beyond the square. Authorities discovered the bodies of his father, mother, and sister at the family home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, located 93 miles northeast of Krakow. The three likely died from gunshot wounds. Officials seized seven weapons from that residence. Four additional guns were found with the man in Krakow or in his vehicle. The total count of recovered weapons reached 11. The suspect’s father legally owned more than 10 guns. The Swit shooting club in Starachowice, where the man trained, stated he only practiced static shooting at stationary targets.

Witnesses described chaotic moments as bullets flew through the air. Marie-Ange Collaer, a visitor from Brussels, wrote on social media that her family hid on the floor of a shop to avoid the gunfire. Neil Thaxton, a resident of the United Kingdom, said he and his wife entered a gift shop where staff locked the doors and turned off the lights. They believed the initial sounds were fireworks before people began running.

Prosecutors opened an investigation for murder and attempted murder on Sunday. They classified the act as a terrorist offense. Four women and two men died in the shooting. Three women and one man were Polish citizens. A man from the United Kingdom and a woman from an unidentified country were also killed. Five non-Polish citizens were among the wounded, representing the United Kingdom, Portugal, Russia, Germany, and Austria. The two police officers who subdued the gunman remain hospitalized. One is still in a coma, while the other has woken up. Regional governor Krzysztof Jan Klęczar noted that the officers' intervention prevented a higher casualty count. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the suspect held very radical and ultranationalistic views.

The suspect is in critical condition after multiple surgeries. Authorities initially reported his age as 25 before confirming on Sunday that he is 24. Kacper Rekawek, a senior researcher at the International Center for Counterterrorism, noted that the shooter’s military gear and appearance mirrored other far-right lone actors in Europe. He stated that these types of attacks have now become successful in Poland. About 411,000 people hold gun permits in the country, which has a population of 37 million. Mass shootings are rare, but three attacks at schools in the central province of Mazovia occurred in mid-October, leaving one person dead and many wounded.