Krakow shooting: Three bodies found at suspects home, Donald Tusk says likely family

Polish authorities said three bodies were found inside the home of the Krakow mass-shooting suspect late on Saturday. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the dead were two women and a man. Donald Tusk said the discovery was "the next acts of this tragedy\". Donald Tusk added the victims were likely close family members.

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The violence began on Saturday in Krakow’s Main Square, a busy site in the Old Town. A 25-year-old Polish man drove into the area and started shooting, authorities said. Six people were killed and 15 were injured before police shot and wounded the attacker. Poland’s defence minister described the incident as an act of terror.

Krakow attack in Main Square kills six

Authorities said the attacker stopped at several points around the square and fired at each stop. Officials said the weapon was an automatic firearm. \"Everything indicates that he was fascinated by far-right ideologies,\" Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said. Marcin Kierwinski also said the man had very radical and ultranationalistic views.

Officials said four women and two men were killed in the shootings. At least three of the women were Polish, and one victim was a UK citizen. Police were still working to identify two of the dead hours later. Investigators also said it remained unclear how many injured people were shot during the attack.

Krakow attack injuries and hospitalisations

Police said two officers were among those hurt, and one had serious injuries. Krakow police commander Marek Boron said five injured people were non-Poles. Authorities said 13 people were hospitalised in serious condition. That number may have included the gunman, who underwent surgery after the attack.

Two injured people were treated and released within hours, authorities said. Social media videos from witnesses showed crowds running to nearby side streets. Other clips showed first responders trying to resuscitate victims. Photos also showed a Polish Medical Air Rescue helicopter after it landed in the square.

Krakow attack suspect wore military-style gear

Krakow police spokesperson Katarzyna Cislo said the attacker wore military-style fatigues and a bulletproof vest. Katarzyna Cislo said the gunman used a military-type long gun. Police found other weapons and ammunition inside the attacker’s car. Katarzyna Cislo said the gunman kept firing at police after being shot.

\"The attacker engaged in a wild ride around Main Square, which is why people were wounded at several locations,\" Cislo said. Cislo said the attacker acted alone and that the public is safe. It was not immediately clear whether the gun used in the attack was legal. Police also did not confirm the legality of weapons found in the car.

Krakow attack prompts mourning and security steps

Krakow mayor Lukasz Gibala said the city will be in official mourning until Wednesday. Lukasz Gibala said Krakow would stay open to visitors despite the deaths. \"The square will belong to us again,\" Gibala said in a video posted to X. Prime Minister Donald Tusk also praised officers who responded, in a post on X.

President Karol Nawrocki said thoughts were with the victims, the wounded and their families. Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski announced increased security measures in the capital. Rafal Trzaskowski said steps included road barriers along key streets in Warsaw’s old town. The measures followed the Krakow shootings, officials said.

Krakow attack highlights rare mass shootings in Poland

Poland has about 411,000 gun permit holders in a population of 37 million, and interest has been rising. Mass shootings are uncommon in Poland, authorities noted. Still, three school attacks in Mazovia happened within four days in mid-October. Those attacks left one person dead and many wounded, including children.

Other reports described more damage during Saturday’s attack near the square. Krakow’s municipal transport company said a tram driver reported about 3 pm that a man in a moving car shot at the tram. The driver’s cabin window was shattered. Animal rights group OTOZ Animals said two horses were also shot and survived.

OTOZ Animals said one horse was grazed by a bullet and the other was hit in the leg. Horse-drawn white carriages are a main tourist attraction in Main Square. Authorities continued to assess the scene and victims through Saturday night. Officials said the case remained under investigation as more details were confirmed.

With inputs from PTI