Six killed in Poland mass shooting; three more bodies found at gunman's home

A gunman killed six people and wounded at least 15 others in Poland's historic city of Krakow on Saturday, November 7, before police shot and arrested him.

Three more bodies were later discovered at his home, raising the death toll associated with the incident to nine.

The shooting took place around 3pm local time (1400 GMT) in Krakow's Main Market Square, one of Poland's busiest tourist destinations.

According to Reuters, the attacker drove into the square and opened fire indiscriminately from his vehicle, sending pedestrians fleeing into nearby shops, restaurants and cafes. 

Police identified the suspect as a 24-year-old Polish citizen from the Świętokrzyskie region. He was wearing military-style clothing and carrying a rifle believed to be an AR-15.

Officers returned fire after the gunman shot at police. He was wounded, detained and taken to hospital.

Authorities said four women and two men were killed. A British citizen was among the dead, while two police officers and several foreign nationals were among the injured.

Polish public broadcaster Radio Poland reported that one officer suffered three gunshot wounds and remained in very serious condition. 

Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said preliminary evidence suggested the suspect had been influenced by far-right ideology and held ultranationalist views.

"Everything points to the fact that the shooter was influenced by far-right ideology," Kierwiński told reporters, according to Reuters.

Investigators have yet to establish a definitive motive.

Police recovered additional firearms and ammunition from the suspect's vehicle. Authorities said he appeared to have acted alone.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk subsequently announced that two women and a man had been found dead at the suspect's home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, roughly 200 kilometres north of Krakow.

He said there were strong indications that the three were members of the gunman's immediate family. Their identities and the circumstances of their deaths remained under investigation.

Counterterrorism officers searched the property, while Poland's Internal Security Agency and Military Counterintelligence Service joined the investigation. 

The attack prompted a major security operation across Krakow.

Kierwiński said police opened fire on the attacker within three minutes of receiving the first emergency report, potentially preventing further casualties.

Prime Minister Tusk praised the officers who confronted the gunman and described the shooting as an act of terrorism.

President Karol Nawrocki declared November 8 and 9 days of national mourning. Krakow authorities separately announced mourning through November 11.

The attack was among Poland's deadliest mass shootings since the collapse of communism in 1989, according to AFP. 

It came after a series of stabbing attacks in Polish schools during October that had already raised concerns about violent extremism.

Condolences poured in from European leaders.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the killings, while European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the shooting as a tragedy whose impact would extend beyond Poland.

Authorities said security had been strengthened in Warsaw as investigators continued examining the gunman's background, weapons and possible extremist connections

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