A man suspected of carrying out a deadly shooting in Krakow is dead, Polish police have announced. The 24-year-old was wounded during the attack and died early on Monday morning, Krakow police said.
Ministers said the man was apparently driven by “far-right ideologies” and described him as an “ultra-nationalist”, without giving further details. The attack took place on Saturday in central Krakow, Poland’s second largest city.
How armed officers stopped the Krakow gunman
Armed officers rushed to the scene and fought a gunfight with the suspect. Officials said he was shot within three minutes of the attack starting, which they said prevented a further massacre.
Also read: Six killed as gunman opens fire in central Krakow square
The shooting began shortly before 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT) in the busy Main Market Square. Police identified the attacker as a Polish man aged 24 but have not confirmed his name.
Six victims from several countries confirmed dead
Six people, four women and two men, have been confirmed killed. Four of the victims are Polish, while a British national and an Austrian woman were also among the dead.
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said three bodies were found at the gunman’s house when it was searched after the attack. On Sunday, police confirmed they were the suspect’s 53-year-old father, 52-year-old mother and his 21-year-old sister.
Polish media has reported that the suspect held a firearms permit and may have obtained the weapons from his family home. Sixteen people, including five foreigners, two police officers and the attacker, were taken to hospital.
The interior ministry later said the foreigners were from Austria, Britain, Germany, Portugal and Russia.
Poland declares national mourning after Krakow attack
Poland declared two days of national mourning in the wake of the shooting. After travelling to Krakow, Tusk said: “Until now in Poland we haven’t had such drastic cases of terrorism…that’s what we have to call this cruel attack on people’s lives here in Krakow.”
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was “shocked and saddened by the appalling shooting in Kraków”. He added: “My thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their lives, everyone injured and all those affected by this senseless violence.” He also said the United Kingdom stands in solidarity with the people of Poland.
