The gunman who killed at least six people during a shooting spree in Kraków, Poland, has died in hospital, two days after the deadly attack, Reuters reported on Monday, citing police sources.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday in the historic city centre, shocked the country and prompted national mourning as security was tightened. Authorities are investigating the shooting as a possible terrorist attack, with preliminary indications suggesting that the suspect may have been influenced by far-right ideology.
The suspect, a Polish man in his 20s, was shot by police during the incident and taken to hospital with serious injuries. He underwent several surgeries but remained in critical condition until his death.
Police said the attacker drove into Kraków’s main market square, a popular destination for tourists and residents, before opening fire on people at random. He initially fired from inside his vehicle, killing four women and two men.
Sixteen people were injured, including two police officers.
Videos circulated on social media captured the sound of gunfire as the attack unfolded, while Kraków police confirmed in a post on X that a man had driven into the square and fired at people from his vehicle.
The suspect was reportedly dressed in military-style clothing and carried what police described as military weapons.
Police Deputy Inspector Katarzyna Cisło told Polish broadcaster TVN24 that weapons and ammunition were also discovered inside his vehicle.
Investigators later found the bodies of the suspect’s sister, mother and father at his residence in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, a town about 120 miles northeast of Kraków.
Poland’s prosecutor’s office said on Sunday that it was “highly likely” the three family members were killed by the same suspect, although investigations into the deaths were continuing.
A total of 11 firearms were recovered from the locations, according to a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office.
Although police have not publicly identified the suspect, Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said he was interested in far-right ideologies and held “very radical views.”
Authorities are also examining symbols found on his clothing to establish their significance.
Interior ministry spokesperson Karolina Galecka told radio station TOK FM on Monday that the emblems were being assessed by specialists.
“These patches were associated with various motifs that are currently being analyzed by specialists,” she said.
The suspect reportedly belonged to a shooting club and was considered an experienced marksman. Adam Chyb, a spokesperson for the club, told Reuters on Sunday that the man appeared to have considerable shooting skills.
The attack has raised concerns in Poland, where gun ownership is tightly regulated and access to military-style firearms and public carrying permits is restricted.
According to figures reported by the Associated Press, approximately 411,000 people in the country of more than 37 million hold gun permits.
Meanwhile, an off-duty surgeon who helped treat victims at the scene has recounted the moments after the shooting began.
Michal Pedziwiatr said he had been having lunch with his family when he heard “what sounded like gunshots.”
He and a colleague, also a surgeon, immediately joined efforts to provide medical assistance to the injured.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Pedziwiatr praised his friend, Mateusz Wierdak, for helping save the life of a police officer who had subdued the attacker.
He described Wierdak as a “hero” for treating the officer’s chest wound without protective equipment.
According to Pedziwiatr, his colleague “applied pressure to the bleeding wound without any protective gear or gloves” and “stuffed gauze pads into the chest cavity.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also commended the two injured police officers, saying their actions had helped save “many lives.”
Police confirmed that both officers underwent surgery and remained in hospital as of Monday.
