KRAKÓW, Poland — The 24-year-old gunman who carried out a deadly rampage in Kraków’s historic Main Market Square has died, police confirmed early Monday morning. The suspect had been in critical condition after being shot by law enforcement during the Saturday midday attack, which left six people dead and over a dozen others wounded.
The tragedy unfolded in the heart of Poland’s second-largest city, a popular tourist hub that was crowded with shoppers and visitors when the suspect opened fire with an automatic rifle. Authorities have since confirmed that the death toll includes four Polish nationals, one British citizen, and one Austrian citizen. Among the more than a dozen injured are five foreign nationals from the U.K., Portugal, Russia, Germany, and Austria.
Two police officers who engaged the gunman in a desperate bid to stop the massacre remain hospitalized in serious condition. Regional official Krzysztof Jan Klęczar confirmed that both officers were conscious by Sunday afternoon, with officials widely praising their actions as heroic.
The investigation has widened significantly following the discovery of three additional bodies in an apartment in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyskie, located roughly 93 miles northeast of Kraków. Deputy Inspector of Police National Headquarters Andrzej Fijołek stated that the victims, believed to be the shooter’s parents and sister, are also considered victims of the same perpetrator. Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek confirmed that the suspect had been facing murder charges for those killings prior to his death.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński suggested the attack was a “terrorist offence” driven by the shooter’s fascination with “far-right ideologies.” However, the official narrative has since become more guarded. As nationalist opposition politicians have questioned the evidence behind such a definitive characterization, other government officials have urged caution.
“Until the matter is fully clarified and the authorities are in possession of complete information, it is best to refrain from making comments, even if there are some initial indications,” government spokesman Adam Szlapka told TVN24.
Justice Minister Żurek reiterated on Monday that the investigation remains ongoing. The primary focus is now to determine whether the suspect acted as a “lone wolf” or if he was part of a larger radical network. “Evidence is being collected, but I will not show or disclose it. I ask for restraint,” Żurek told Radio Zet.
For those caught in the chaos, the memory remains one of sheer terror. Marie-Ange Collaer, a tourist visiting from Brussels, shared her harrowing experience on social media: “We literally ran for our lives and managed to hide from the bullets flying around.”
As the city of Kraków begins a period of mourning, the investigation into the motives behind the dual crime scenes continues, with authorities working to piece together the events that led to such a devastating loss of life.
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