Polish prosecutors have opened a terrorism investigation after a gunman killed nine people, including a British national, in what authorities suspect was a far-right attack in Krakow.
The 25-year-old suspect is accused of killing his parents and sister at their home before driving to the city’s historic Main Market Square and firing into the crowds, leaving six more people dead.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised two police officers who confronted the gunman as “true heroes”. Senior constables Jakub Kulik and Artur Morański remained in critical condition in hospital.
The suspect was wounded in a gunfight with officers shortly after the attack and taken to hospital, where he was undergoing a second operation.
At least 15 people, including the two officers, were injured in the shooting at about 3pm local time on Saturday. “It is a truly exceptional tragedy,” Mr Tusk said.
The suspect, a Polish citizen from Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski in the country’s south-east, drove a black Subaru into the busy square before opening fire with a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle.
He was wearing military-style green clothing, together with what appeared to be a helmet and body armour.
Video showed an officer firing approximately six shots before later appearing slumped on the ground.
Four women and two men were killed in the square. Polish police commander Marek Boron said three of the victims were Polish and one was British, while two others had yet to be identified.
Police officers seal off an area near Krakow’s Main Market Square after the mass shooting
A police officer approaches a person believed to be the shooter and fires up to six shots. The officer was also injured in the exchange
Images from the scene show the alleged gunman in military-style clothing, with a rifle lying nearby
Footage appeared to capture the face of the alleged attacker
The bodies of three relatives, believed to be the suspect’s parents and sister, were later found at his home.
Poland’s National Prosecutor’s Office confirmed on Sunday that an investigation into the attack had been launched.
The inquiry relates to “the killing of six people… using a firearm, and the attempted murder of many others, including police officers, this act constituting a terrorist offence”.
Poland’s interior minister said the gunman may have been influenced by “far-right ideologies” and held “very radical views”. He added that “many guns were found” in the vehicle he was driving.
One of the officers involved in the exchange of fire was previously reported to have been shot three times and to have undergone surgery.
The suspect belonged to the Świt Starachowice sports shooting club, a spokesperson confirmed. He had visited its range twice this year.
The club said it specialised in static sport shooting and that the suspect had never received dynamic, tactical or combat training there.
It said he had shown no worrying behaviour, adding that it was cooperating fully with investigators and had supplied all requested materials and information.
“We deeply regret this incident and offer our condolences to the families of the victims,” the spokesperson said.
Jonathan Balshaw, from Ipswich, was outside St Mary’s Basilica with his girlfriend when the shooting began.
“We ran down the side of the church and through the side door and hid with several other people until the gunfire died down,” he told the BBC.
“A lot of shots were fired, more than 20, and it sounded like multiple different firearms – there were two distinctly different noises.”
The alleged gunman was shown wearing a helmet and body armour as he was arrested
Initial emergency-service figures indicated that six people had died and 15 were injured
Police examine a vehicle during the investigation into the fatal shooting
Emergency crews at the scene of Saturday’s mass shooting in Poland
Bullet impacts are visible on a shop window in Krakow
Police and firefighters near Krakow’s Main Market Square after the shooting
Video showed a police officer moving towards a person believed to be the shooter as he lay on the ground.
Members of Dublin Civil Defence also rushed to assist people who had been shot.
Speaking to RTÉ News, Civil Defence officer James McConnell said the Irish team, who were visiting the city on a break, performed CPR and treated severe bleeding.
Police said the alleged attacker appeared to have acted alone, held a firearms licence and “returned fire” after officers shot at him.
Despite his military-style clothing, Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz denied reports that the suspect was a soldier.
He described the incident as a “terror attack” and urged people to remain united.
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the alleged attacker was “fascinated by far-right ideologies”. He added that an initial assessment pointed to “ultra-nationalist views”, although this still needed to be confirmed.
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Mr Kierwiński said investigators were examining whether the suspect had taken guns from his family home after some of the weapons were found to be registered to his father, but stressed it was “too early” to draw conclusions.
“Police officers in Krakow risked their lives to intervene. Immediately. Thanks to their heroic actions, the attacker was quickly apprehended,” he said.
People shelter inside a shop near the main square as broken glass covers the floor
A city guard member runs near the scene of the shooting close to Krakow’s main square
A shop window lies shattered after the deadly shooting on November 7 in Krakow
Videos shared online showed people lying on the ground as the shooting continued, while passers-by tried to help the wounded and perform CPR.
Other footage showed people running for cover and hiding inside nearby shops as gunfire echoed around the square.
An air ambulance landed in the square after the shooting, while a major police operation continued in Poland’s second-largest city that evening.
A passing tram was struck by gunfire, but nobody aboard was hurt, despite the driver’s window being shattered.
Mr Tusk said he was receiving regular updates and that a police investigation was under way.
“My deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the tragic attack in Kraków. My highest praise for the heroic police officers who risked their lives,” he said.
“And a heartfelt appeal to politicians of all stripes: do not exploit this tragedy. We will establish all the circumstances of this crime.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was “shocked and saddened by the appalling shooting”, adding that his thoughts were with those affected.
“The United Kingdom stands in solidarity with the people of Poland,” he said.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said: “The UK Government deeply mourns the British national and other victims who have died after the appalling attack in Krakow.
“All of my deepest condolences go to the families of the victims.”
Portugal’s foreign ministry said one of its citizens was among the injured and was receiving hospital treatment.
Poland’s interior ministry said the four other foreign nationals injured in the shooting were from Austria, Germany, Russia and Britain.
Police vehicles gather at the scene in Poland’s second-largest city
An air ambulance stands in the main square after the gunman opened fire
Emergency workers speak with people at the scene in Krakow’s square
A woman is pictured in the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s shooting in Krakow
Emergency responders gather in the main square on Saturday evening
President Karol Nawrocki said he was “deeply concerned” and that his thoughts were with the victims and their families.
He said: “I remain in contact with the relevant authorities and expect a full explanation of the circumstances surrounding these tragic events.
“The safety of Poles is an absolute priority!”
The city’s mayor signed an order declaring a period of mourning until November 11.
Mass shootings are rare in Poland, although three knife attacks at schools took place within four days last month, leaving a woman dead and children among the wounded.
Mr Tusk said at the time that the attacks were fuelled by the “glorification of violence” online, adding: “We are not dealing with any group organised on a big scale.”
An anti-government protest had been scheduled for 2pm local time on Saturday at Matejki Place, close to the market square.
Poland is also facing a constitutional dispute over judicial appointments to the country’s highest court, a conflict that has divided the nationalist president and the pro-European government.
Earlier this year, Mr Nawrocki refused to swear in judges nominated by a majority of the Polish parliament, led by Prime Minister and former European Council president Mr Tusk.
Mr Tusk’s coalition promised to reform the court after taking office in 2023, following international criticism of the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party’s appointment of its own nominees and its perceived challenge to the rule of law.
But Mr Nawrocki, who was endorsed by PiS, has blocked efforts to repopulate the court. Newly nominated judges have also been denied access by the tribunal’s president, Bogdan Swieczkowski.
Last week, Mr Nawrocki returned from a visit to Africa after reports that the tribunal’s longest-serving judge, Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, had suspended Mr Swieczkowski and assumed control herself.
Officers have guarded the court since last Friday, as hundreds of protesters demanded Mr Swieczkowski’s reinstatement.
There is no indication that Saturday’s shooting was connected to the constitutional dispute.