Krakow Shooting Suspect Dies in Hospital Following Deadly Attack
A 24-year-old man suspected of carrying out a deadly shooting in Krakow has passed away in hospital, according to local police. The individual was wounded during an exchange of gunfire with armed officers who confronted him only three minutes after the attack began on Saturday, an intervention officials credited with preventing a larger massacre. According to the 24-year-old, who officials, Was apparently inspired by “far-right ideologies”, was injured after opening fire in central Krakow, the second largest city in Poland, on Saturday. Everyone injured and all those affected by this senseless violence, my thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their lives.
The incident, which occurred near Krakow’s busy Main Market Square shortly before 15:00 local time, resulted in the deaths of six individuals. Which began shortly before 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT) in Krakow’s busy Main Market Square, police identified the attacker as a 24-year-old Polish man but did not confirm his name, after the shooting.
Among the victims, police confirmed that three—a 53-year-old man, a 52-year-old woman, and a 21-year-old woman—were the suspect’s father, mother, and sister, whose bodies were discovered at the family residence following a search.
Investigations into the motivation behind the violence are ongoing, with government officials noting early evidence suggesting the perpetrator was influenced by ultra-nationalist and far-right ideologies. Media reports in Poland have also indicated that the man possessed a firearms permit and may have utilized weapons sourced from his family home.
The attack left sixteen people hospitalized, including two police officers, and citizens from the UK, Austria, Germany, Portugal, and Russia. According to the interior ministry later, They were from Austria, Britain, Germany, Portugal and Russia.
On Sunday, reports indicated that the two injured officers had regained consciousness after being in a coma.
Two surgeons who happened to be dining near the scene stepped in to provide immediate medical assistance before emergency services arrived.
Professional Response
- Professor Michal Pedziwiatr: Described how he and a colleague, identified as Dr. Mateusz Wierdak, rushed to provide life-saving care to victims and officers when no other professionals were available on-site.
- Dr. Wierdak: Credited with using his hand to stop severe bleeding for a wounded officer, which likely saved his life.
- Prime Minister Donald Tusk: Traveled to the site and characterized the event as a cruel act of terrorism, marking an unprecedented level of violence for the region.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as the gunfire erupted. Ruby Catherine Warren, visiting from London, recounted running for shelter with friends until finding safety in a hotel. Tom Brook, who was inside a nearby restaurant, reported hearing multiple shots and witnessing paramedics attempting to resuscitate a victim in the square. I then walked into the square and saw paramedics working on someone outside [a shop] and there was a dead body covered in foil blankets 20 meters away,” he said.
In response to the tragedy, the Polish government has declared two days of national mourning. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed his condolences, noting that the United Kingdom stands in solidarity with the people of Poland during this time. The Main Market Square, which had been cordoned off for the investigation, was reopened to the public on Sunday evening.
- Watch: Doctor who treated victims of Krakow shooting speaks to.
- Professor Michal PÄdziwiatr told: “We saw the shooting attack. And what a surgeon can do in a situation like this?… We decided to help the victims as soon as possible.
- Because there were no ambulances available, there were no professionals around, we rushed into the area where the shooting was and started our rescue.
