Armed Man Kills Six in Krakow Old Town Shooting
Saturday's attack in Krakow's tourist centre left six dead and 16 injured, including police officers. The suspect, a young Pole fascinated by far-right extremist ideology, was shot and detained, and Poland declared national mourning.
A young Pole, fascinated by far-right extremist ideology, is suspected of opening fire on Saturday at around 3:00 p.m. in Krakow's tourist centre, leaving six dead and 16 injured. Among the victims are police officers, and the authorities have declared national mourning, in effect from midnight on Saturday into Sunday. The attack took place in one of the most visited areas of the Old Town, a place where visitors from around the world usually gather.
Among those killed is a British citizen. Five other foreigners were injured, including a Portuguese woman. The suspect was shot by police and detained, and after his arrest he was operated on in hospital. According to the Polish press, automatic weapons were found on him. The scale of the attack meant that the law enforcement response was quickly coordinated, and the exchange of fire with police left several officers wounded.
After the detention, authorities discovered three bodies at the suspect's home in Ostrowiec, a town in south-eastern Poland. These are probably his parents and sister. The residence has been searched by investigators, who are trying to reconstruct the attacker's movements and preparations. The exact motive has not yet been clarified, and the press has not yet confirmed whether there were any prior signs of his intentions.
Two of the injured police officers have come to the fore. Jakub Kulik, a former paratrooper, was shot three times and is in critical condition. Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek said that one of Kulik's lungs is no longer functioning. Another police officer, Artur Morański, was wounded in the same exchange of fire. Prime Minister Donald Tusk named the two as heroes, and his message was echoed by many citizens who came to lay flowers and light candles in memory of the victims.
Against this backdrop, appeals for blood donations have been launched across Poland, especially for the AB Rh positive blood group, needed in treating serious wounds. Kulik's former unit, the 6th Airborne Brigade, made a similar appeal for donors, and the Chief of the General Staff, General Wiesław Kukuła, called on soldiers to mobilise in support of the emergency efforts.
Jakub Kulik's condition remains uncertain, with his progress described as critical. Until the motives for the attack and the circumstances in which it was carried out are clarified, the details of its planning and any possible links the suspect had to other people remain unknown. The authorities have announced that investigations will continue, and the community in Krakow and across the country is awaiting clarification of what happened.
Source: digi24.ro
5
