A 24-year-old gunman who killed six people and wounded 15 others in a mass shooting at Kraków’s Main Market Square on Saturday died in the hospital on Monday morning.
Gunman Dies After Kraków Shootout
The suspect died at 4:30 a.m. at the hospital following multiple operations. He was a resident of Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski.
He had been in critical condition since the attack, during which he was shot by police after opening fire from his car in the historic city center wearing military-style clothing and a bulletproof vest.
Prosecutors are examining electronic devices secured from the assailant to determine if he acted alone or received assistance. Eryk Stasielak from the Kraków branch of the national prosecutor’s office stated that investigators are working to establish how the attacker obtained numerous firearms and ammunition.
Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek announced that the investigation will proceed despite the shooter’s death.
Police Find Three Relatives Dead
Police discovered three bodies inside the suspect’s family home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyskie, located about 93 miles northeast of Kraków. Andrzej Fijołek, deputy inspector of Police National Headquarters, identified the deceased as the shooter’s parents and sister, who likely died from gunshot wounds.
Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek stated that the suspect faced separate murder charges over the deaths in his hometown, adding that he acted with the aim of seriously intimidating a large number of people, making this a terrorist offence.
Victims Include Six Dead and 15 Wounded
The dead include four Polish nationals, a man from the United Kingdom, and a woman from Austria, according to regional official Krzysztof Jan Klęczar. The 15 injured victims comprise visitors from Britain, Portugal, Russia, Germany, and Austria.
Authorities said on Monday morning that all wounded were in stable condition. The police officer who ultimately stopped the attacker remains in a serious state.
Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek stated on social media regarding Senior Constable Jakub Kulik that he is fighting for his life in hospital
after he confronted the shooter.
Leaders Clash Over Motive and Mourning
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński described the shooter as having ultranationalistic
views and stated that Everything indicates he was fascinated by far-right ideologies.
Nationalist opposition politicians questioned those assertions, prompting government officials to urge restraint.
Government spokesperson Adam Szlapka told TVN24 that 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.
Poland observed two national days of mourning proclaimed by the Interior Ministry. Pope Leo XIV sent a message to the archbishop of Kraków stating that he implores the gift of Christian hope for the families overwhelmed by grief and joins with all those experiencing these days of mourning.
How did the attacker obtain the numerous firearms and ammunition used in the square?
Earlier coverage: Suspect in Kraków Mass Shooting Dies in Hospital, Police Say