Krakow Attack: Poland Declares Two-Day Mourning Period
A 24-year-old man is suspected of killing six people in the historic city center before a probe into terrorism began.
By David Marshall ·
Poland has entered a two-day national mourning period following a shooting in central Krakow.
A 24-year-old Polish man opened fire in the city's historic center on Saturday, killing six people. Authorities confirmed that one of the victims was a British national. Fifteen others were wounded, including citizens from Austria, Britain, Germany, Portugal, and Russia, according to the PAP news agency.
Police later located three additional bodies at the suspect's residence in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, a town located 150 kilometers northeast of Krakow. The victims were identified as the suspect's parents and a sister. The suspect, identified as Michal O, was also wounded during police operations and is currently hospitalized in critical condition. He held a valid gun license and had no prior criminal record, according to media reports.
The National Prosecutor's Office launched a formal investigation on Sunday, classifying the act as a terrorist offense. Spokesperson Daniel Prokopowicz stated it was highly likely that the same individual committed the killings in both locations. Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said the attacker was influenced by far-right and ultranationalist ideologies.
On Sunday, police closed Krakow's main market square and surrounding streets, allowing entry only for essential service workers. Flags at the city hall flew at half-mast, and nearby cafes remained shuttered. Mourners placed candles throughout the area. The hourly trumpet call from St Mary's church, a tradition on the square, was suspended for 12 hours to honor the dead. This was the first suspension of the call since 1939.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities process evidence from both crime scenes.
