Poland has opened an investigation for terrorism following the shooting that left six people dead and at least 15 injured on Saturday, November 7, in the historic center of Kraków. The Polish Prosecution Service investigates the attack as a crime committed with the intention of seriously intimidating a large number of people.
The shots were fired at around three in the afternoon in the Main Market Square, one of the city’s main tourist spots. According to information released by the authorities, a man arrived at the scene in a vehicle and began firing indiscriminately at the people in the area.
The death toll from the attack is six, four women and two men, and at least 15 injured. Among the fatalities is a British citizen. Two police officers were also injured when they intervened to stop the suspect; one of them is in a very serious condition.
The alleged perpetrator was wounded by the officers during the exchange of gunfire and taken to a hospital, where he was placed under police custody.
The Prosecution Service investigates the attack as terrorism
The National Prosecution Service of Poland announced this Sunday the opening of proceedings for the killing of six people with a firearm and the attempted homicide of others, including several police officers. The legal classification considers that the author would have acted with the intention of seriously intimidating a part of the population, an element that allows the facts to be investigated as a terrorism offense.
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said that initial information indicates that the suspect held “very radical” ideas and was fascinated by far-right ideologies. The authorities believe he acted alone, although the investigation continues to clarify the circumstances and the possible motive for the attack.
The man is a Polish citizen and, according to the information released by the authorities, had no criminal record and was not listed in police records. He had a firearms license. The Ministry of Defense, for its part, ruled out that he had belonged to the country’s Armed Forces.
Three relatives of the suspect, found dead in his home
The investigation has also extended to the home of the alleged author, located in the town of Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, about 150 kilometers from Krakow. There, the lifeless bodies of three people were found: his father, his mother, and his sister. The first indications point to the fact that they died from gunshot wounds.
The Prosecutor’s Office is investigating these three deaths as a separate case from the shooting in the city. During the police actions at the home, several firearms were seized.
After the attack, the Polish authorities declared two days of national mourning, starting this Sunday. The Market Square and the nearby streets remained cordoned off while investigators collected evidence and citizens went to leave flowers and candles in memory of the victims.
The investigation remains open to determine the complete course of events and to clarify both the motive for the shooting and the circumstances surrounding the deaths found at the suspect’s home.