Six killed in Krakow shooting; three of gunman's family found dead at home, Poland declares mourning

A 24-year-old man suddenly opened indiscriminate fire in Krakow (Kraków), Poland's second-largest city and a historic tourist centre. Six innocent people were killed and about 15 were seriously injured. Poland's Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defence immediately declared the incident an "act of terrorism".

The incident took place on Saturday afternoon in Krakow's crowded and well-known Main Market Square, which is considered a special attraction for tourists from around the world. According to eyewitnesses, a young man dressed in clothes resembling an army uniform drove his car into the crowded area and, from inside the car, began firing at people on the street with a military-grade AR-15 rifle.

The attack, which lasted one to one and a half minutes, set off a stampede in the square. People were seen running to find safety. Within minutes, the glass of nearby shops and vehicles was shattered. Four women and two men were killed on the spot. Those killed include a British national along with Polish citizens.

On receiving information, a special police unit of Poland reached the spot within just three minutes and took position. On seeing the police, the attacker fired at them as well. In the police's return fire he was shot and wounded, and he was taken into custody. Two Polish police officers were seriously injured in the encounter. One officer was hit by three bullets in the chest and his condition is critical. Large-scale appeals are being made in Poland for blood donations to save his life.

The attacker's hometown, Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, is some distance from Krakow. When police raided his home there, another shocking scene emerged. The bodies of his mother, father and sister were found in the house, and they had been shot. This has raised an initial suspicion that he may have killed his entire family before going to Krakow.

Poland's Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński told reporters that the 24-year-old attacker was driven by a fanatical, ultra-nationalist, right-wing ideology. A large quantity of sophisticated weapons and ammunition was recovered from his car and home. According to the Interior Ministry, he held an official licence for a firearm.

Poland has a population of 37 million and gun ownership there is quite limited. Only about 411,000 people hold firearms licences. This is the first shooting of such scale in such a peaceful country, and concern has spread across the European Union.

In protest against the incident and to pay tribute to those killed, the Polish government has declared two days of national mourning from Sunday. Security has been stepped up in Krakow as well as in the capital, Warsaw. People lit candles in Krakow's main square to pay tribute to the dead. Poland's national security agency (ABW) and the police are conducting a thorough investigation into the entire matter.