KRAKOW, Poland, Nov 9 – A 24-year-old gunman who killed six people and injured 15 others during a shooting in a crowded square in Krakow, Poland, has died in hospital, police confirmed Monday. The attacker, who was reportedly associated with radical nationalist views, had remained in critical condition since opening fire in the historic city center on Saturday.
The shooting, one of the deadliest incidents of its kind in recent Polish history, has raised serious questions about the availability of firearms, the potential influence of extremist ideologies and the growing threat posed by individuals acting alone. Investigators are also examining whether the gunman received assistance or encouragement from anyone else before carrying out the attack.
Police said the attacker died at approximately 4:30 a.m. Monday after undergoing several medical procedures. He had been receiving treatment in critical condition following the shooting, which unfolded in Krakow’s Old Town, a popular destination for international visitors and one of the city’s busiest public areas.
According to authorities, the gunman arrived at the main square wearing military-style clothing and a bulletproof vest before opening fire on people in the area. The attack left six people dead and 15 others wounded. Several of the victims were foreign nationals, although officials did not immediately provide a complete breakdown of their nationalities.
The investigation took another disturbing turn when authorities discovered the bodies of the suspect’s mother, father and sister inside the family’s residence in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, approximately 150 kilometers (93 miles) northeast of Krakow. Investigators believe the three family members were killed by gunfire, potentially while they were sleeping.
Authorities have indicated that the suspect may have killed his relatives before travelling to Krakow to carry out the public shooting. However, investigators are continuing to establish the precise sequence of events and the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Investigators Examine Extremist Beliefs, Weapons and Possible Connections
Polish authorities are examining the gunman’s ideological background, personal communications and access to firearms as they attempt to establish what motivated the attack.
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński described the suspect’s views as “very radical” and “ultranationalistic” following Saturday’s shooting. Officials have not yet established whether his beliefs directly influenced the decision to target people in the city square or whether anyone else was involved in planning the violence.
Eryk Stasielak, from the Krakow branch of Poland’s national prosecutor’s office, said investigators were particularly interested in determining whether the attacker had been influenced by other individuals or received assistance.
“We are first of all investigating if he was inspired by anyone, if someone helped him,” Stasielak told The Associated Press.
Investigators have seized the suspect’s electronic devices and are attempting to access their contents. The material could help establish whether he communicated with extremist groups, discussed the attack with other people or expressed intentions to commit violence before Saturday.
Karolina Gałecka, spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, said authorities were also examining numerous symbols and patches discovered on the gunman’s clothing and at his family home.
One item attracting particular attention is a yellow flag displaying a black snake, commonly known as the Gadsden flag, which prosecutors said was hanging on the wall of the suspect’s bedroom. The flag originated during the American Revolution and was subsequently adopted by the U.S. Tea Party movement. Investigators are examining its significance within the broader context of the suspect’s political and ideological views.
Authorities recovered seven firearms from the family residence, bringing the total number of weapons discovered during the investigation to 11. Four additional weapons, including two AR-15 semi-automatic rifles, were found either on the suspect or inside his vehicle in Krakow.
Prosecutors said dozens, potentially hundreds, of shots were fired during the attack. The quantity and variety of weapons recovered have become important elements of the investigation into how the gunman prepared for the shooting.
Police also confirmed that both the suspect and his father held firearms permits. The younger man had received training at a local shooting club, although the organization sought to distance itself from the nature of the attack.
In a public statement, the club said the suspect “was never trained in our club in the areas of dynamic, tactical or combat shooting.”
The shooting has intensified concerns about the potential consequences of individuals with extremist beliefs obtaining firearms and preparing for attacks without attracting sufficient attention from authorities.
Although mass shootings remain relatively uncommon in Poland, the country has experienced several violent incidents involving young individuals in recent months.
In mid-October, three separate attacks took place at schools in the central Mazovia province within a period of four days. The incidents left one person dead and several others injured, including children. The attackers reportedly used knives or other sharp objects, while some were said to have shown an interest in far-right ideology.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk previously linked the school attacks to what he described as the online “glorification of violence.” He also referred to the possibility of “nihilistic violence,” a term used by authorities to describe attacks motivated by destructive worldviews and hostility towards others rather than clearly defined political objectives.
Kacper Rekawek, a senior researcher at the International Center for Counterterrorism in The Hague, said the Krakow shooting displayed characteristics associated with attacks carried out by far-right individuals acting alone in different parts of the world.
He pointed to the gunman’s military-style equipment and extensive weapons collection as elements resembling patterns seen in other extremist attacks.
Rekawek said Poland had experienced previous attempts at similar violence, but the Krakow incident represented a significant development because the attack resulted in multiple fatalities.
He also suggested that the shooting and the recent school attacks could be examined as part of a wider pattern of violence, even though investigators have not established a direct connection between the incidents.
Police Officers Praised for Preventing Further Deaths as Victims Are Remembered
The actions of two police officers who confronted the gunman have received widespread recognition across Poland. Authorities and political leaders have praised their response, saying their intervention may have prevented an even greater loss of life.
A video circulated on social media showed an officer repeatedly firing at the attacker while he was lying in the street. An accompanying image of a wounded officer kneeling beside the gunman also attracted significant public attention.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk identified the officers as Jakub Kulik and Artur Morański, describing them as heroes who risked their lives to protect others.
“Senior police officers Jakub Kulik and Artur Morański are real heroes,” Tusk wrote on X. He added that their actions had probably saved numerous lives and said both officers were receiving medical treatment.
According to police accounts, the officers were patrolling the area when they received instructions to respond to the shooting. The first police shot was fired within three minutes of authorities receiving the initial report.
The officers pursued the gunman as he continued firing a semi-automatic rifle. Both used their service weapons to confront him, despite coming under fire themselves.
Kulik continued shooting even after being wounded. Both officers sustained serious injuries during the confrontation.
Kulik, who is 24, remained in critical condition following the incident. His condition prompted officials to appeal urgently for blood donations as medical teams worked to treat him.
A public fundraising campaign established to support the officers and their families had collected more than 6 million zlotys, approximately $1.5 million, according to the latest reported figures.
Krakow’s mayor also announced that Kulik and Morański would receive honorary citizenship of the city in recognition of their actions.
Two surgeons who happened to be close to the shooting scene also played an important role in the emergency response. Their immediate medical assistance helped save the lives of the wounded officers.
Krakow surgeon Michał Pędziwiatr described how fellow surgeon Mateusz Wierdak treated one of the officers after the confrontation.
“He took care of the officer who subdued the attacker because he truly needed urgent help,” Pędziwiatr said. He explained that Wierdak concentrated on controlling severe bleeding from the officer’s chest, despite having no protective equipment or medical gloves available at the time.
Pędziwiatr said the intervention probably saved the officer’s life.
Meanwhile, the victims of the shooting have been remembered by colleagues, friends and members of Krakow’s cultural community.
Among those killed was Izabela Woźna, a 53-year-old painter and mother of four. She had opened an exhibition featuring her artwork in Krakow on Friday evening, just one day before the shooting.
Her death has deeply affected the city’s artistic community, where she was known for her creative work and family life.
The Krakow Academy of Fine Arts also confirmed that Magdalena Oksińska, the suspect’s 21-year-old sister, had been a third-year student at the institution. The academy additionally disclosed that the sister of one of its employees had been shot twice during the incident.
In a statement released Sunday, the institution expressed grief over the deaths and injuries, describing the attack as a devastating blow to its academic community.
Architect Pavko Krajka also paid tribute to Oksińska in a social media post, sharing images of her colorful paintings and describing her as a talented artist, photographer, poet and writer.
Krajka said her death represented a significant loss for cultural communities in Krakow, Poland and across Europe, particularly within queer culture.
As investigators continue examining the suspect’s background, electronic devices and weapons, authorities have yet to establish a definitive motive for the shooting. Questions also remain about whether the gunman acted entirely alone and what led him to target members of the public.
The deaths of six people, the injuries suffered by 15 others and the killing of the suspect’s family members have left Krakow facing a major tragedy. The investigation is expected to focus on reconstructing the events leading up to Saturday’s violence and determining whether warning signs or potential connections were overlooked.