A gunman dressed in military-style clothing unleashed terror in one of Poland’s most popular tourist destinations, killing six people and injuring 15 others before being shot by police. But the investigation took an even darker turn when authorities discovered three more bodies inside the suspected attacker’s family home.
The deadly rampage unfolded around 3 p.m. Saturday, November 7, in Krakow’s historic Main Market Square, a bustling destination filled with restaurants, shops and tourists.
According to Polish authorities, the attacker drove a black vehicle into the crowded square and began firing indiscriminately at people nearby, sending terrified pedestrians scrambling for cover.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as gunshots echoed through the historic city center and people rushed into nearby buildings to escape.
The shooting left six people dead, including four women and two men. Among the victims were foreign nationals visiting the popular European destination.
At least 15 other people were wounded, including two police officers who confronted the gunman in an effort to stop the bloodshed.
One officer suffered three gunshot wounds and was reported to be in serious condition, while the second officer was also hospitalized.
Police eventually shot and wounded the attacker before taking him into custody. Authorities said he acted alone and confirmed that no additional gunman was being sought.
But investigators soon uncovered another horrifying discovery.
During a search of the suspected shooter’s family home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, officers discovered three more people dead from apparent gunshot wounds.
Authorities identified them as the suspect’s father, mother and sister, raising the total number of deaths being investigated in connection with the attack to nine.
The suspect, identified by authorities as a 24-year-old Polish citizen, reportedly possessed a firearms license. Investigators recovered multiple weapons and ammunition from his vehicle and family residence.
Poland’s interior minister, Marcin Kierwiński, said investigators had uncovered indications that the suspect held radical ultranationalist views and was fascinated by far-right ideology.
Prosecutors have opened a terrorism investigation, although authorities are still working to establish the precise motive and circumstances surrounding the killings.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned the violence and praised the officers who risked their lives confronting the gunman.
He also urged political leaders not to exploit the tragedy while investigators worked to uncover what happened.
The massacre has stunned Poland, where mass shootings of this scale are uncommon.
Krakow, the country’s second-largest city, is renowned for its medieval architecture and historic Main Market Square, which attracts millions of visitors.
The city declared a period of mourning, while Poland began two days of national mourning to honor the victims.
Authorities said the injured were receiving treatment at local hospitals, and officials continued examining evidence from both the market square and the suspect’s family home.
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