A British man was among six people shot dead in a Polish city attack that authorities have described as an act of terror, while another Briton was among 16 people injured. The suspected gunman, a 24-year-old Polish national, is also believed to have killed three members of his own family before being shot by police.
The shooting took place in Krakow's Main Square on Saturday afternoon, when the gunman, armed with an automatic weapon, opened fire at multiple spots in the Old Town area of Poland's second-largest city. Four women and two men were killed, with local officials saying three of the women and one man were Polish. The other man was British, while the nationality of the fourth woman remains unknown.
Among the wounded were five foreign nationals from the UK, Portugal, Russia, Germany and Austria. The perpetrator himself was also among the injured.
Family Bodies Found
Authorities found three dead bodies at the suspected gunman's family home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, a city about 93 miles north-east of Krakow. Police said on Sunday they were the bodies of his sister, mother and father, and they are believed to have been shot.
The suspected gunman was believed to have been inspired by "far-right ideologies" and remains in hospital after being shot by police. Local police have launched a blood appeal for officer Jakub Kulik, who is fighting for his life in hospital. The force said the senior constable had confronted the armed attacker and suffered serious injuries.
Footage on social media shows an armed police officer approaching the gunman, who appears to be wearing tactical gear and lying on the ground with a rifle beside him. Sirens can be heard as the officer appears to fire six shots towards him before dropping to his knees.
Witness Accounts
Jonathan Balshaw, from Ipswich, was outside Mary's Basilica in the square with his girlfriend when the attack started. "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 with it sounding like multiple different firearms – there were two distinctly different noises."
Neil Thaxton, of Knottingley, West Yorkshire, wrote on Facebook: "We had just walked through the main square and heard the gunshots. We thought it was fireworks then people started running. We went into a gift shop and the staff took us in the back of the shop and locked the doors and turned the lights off. It was quite scary for 5-10 minutes, fortunately we're alright, our thoughts are with the ones who've lost their lives and their loved ones."
Official Response
In a press conference on Saturday night, Polish police commander-in-chief Marek Boron said: "There are 16 people injured including two police officers and the perpetrator himself – 11 of those are Polish citizens, five citizens of foreign countries. There are six fatalities, four women and two men – three Polish persons, one citizen of Great Britain and two persons who are not yet identified."
Prime Minister Andy Burnham paid tribute to the victims of the attack, saying: "I'm shocked and saddened by the appalling shooting in Krakow today. My thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their lives, everyone injured and all those affected by this senseless violence. The United Kingdom stands in solidarity with the people of Poland."
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting told the Press Association: "The events in Krakow are profoundly shocking. My deepest condolences go to those who are waking up this morning within an enormous hole in their lives as a result of this appalling incident. We're not able to save much more at this stage. And I don't believe the name of the British victim has been released. But suffice to say, we stand in solidarity with Poland this morning. And we stand with those who are grieving in the face of such an unspeakable tragedy."
Polish interior minister Marcin Kierwinski said the attacker held "very radical views" and "was fascinated by far-right ideologies". Polish defence minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz called Saturday's fatal shooting an "act of terror" on the people of Krakow.
The FCDO is advising British nationals in Krakow to "follow the advice of local authorities and monitor local media". In a statement, 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. The UK stands resolutely in solidarity with the people of Poland."
Krakow mayor Lukasz Gibala said in a post on X the city would observe a period of mourning until November 11.
