Krakow shooting suspect dies in hospital, Polish police confirm
A 24-year-old gunman who killed six people in central Krakow and three family members at home has died in hospital on Monday morning.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The 24-year-old shooting suspect died in hospital on Monday morning.
- The rampage left six dead in Krakow's Main Market Square and three at his home.
- Armed police engaged and shot the gunman within three minutes of the attack.
- Poland declared two days of national mourning following the tragedy.
Polish police have confirmed that the 24-year-old gunman suspected of carrying out a mass shooting in central Krakow, as well as the murder of his family members, has died in a hospital. Authorities stated that the attacker, reportedly inspired by far-right ideologies, sustained injuries during a shootout with armed police officers who rushed to the scene.
The violence erupted shortly before 15:00 local time on Saturday in the busy Main Market Square of Krakow, Poland's second-largest city. According to officials, responding officers managed to shoot and neutralize the suspect within three minutes of the attack's onset, preventing further bloodshed.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Authorities confirmed that six people—four women and two men—were killed at the square, comprising four Polish nationals, a British citizen, and an Austrian woman. Following a subsequent search of the gunman's residence, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that three additional bodies were found, later identified by police as the suspect's 53-year-old father, 52-year-old mother, and 21-year-old sister.
Local media reported that the suspect held a firearms permit and may have sourced the weapons from his family home. A total of 16 people, including five foreign nationals, two police officers, and the attacker, were hospitalized. The interior ministry noted that the injured foreigners hailed from Austria, Britain, Germany, Portugal, and Russia.
"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."
Professor Michal Pędziwiatr
Two surgeons, Professor Michal Pędziwiatr and Dr. Mateusz Wierdak, who were dining near the square when the shooting started, rushed to assist the wounded in the absence of immediate ambulances. Dr. Wierdak used his bare hand to stem the bleeding of a severely injured police officer, buying critical time until medical transport arrived. Both injured officers have since emerged from comas.
Mass shootings are exceedingly rare in Poland, which generally maintains low rates of violent crime in Europe. The attacker's targeting of both his immediate family and random citizens in a public space, combined with ideological motives, highlights modern challenges regarding domestic security and radicalization. The rapid three-minute police intervention and the heroism of off-duty medical professionals were crucial in mitigating an even greater loss of life.
In the wake of the tragedy, Poland declared two days of national mourning. Leaders from various nations, including UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, expressed deep condolences and solidarity with the Polish people. The Main Market Square reopened on Sunday evening after security cordons were lifted.
Source: BBC World
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