Poland has declared two days of national mourning starting Sunday, October 29, 2023. This decision was made following a deadly shooting in Krakow's main square (Rynek Glowny) that resulted in six deaths and 15 injuries.
Shooting Details
The shooting occurred on Saturday, October 28, in the main square of Krakow, Poland's second-largest city. This area is known as a popular tourist attraction. In addition to the six fatalities in the square, police reported that three bodies found at the suspect's home belonged to his sister, mother, and father.
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Reactions from Officials and the Community
The Polish government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, has described the attack as a terrorist act by far-right extremists, although officials have not yet specified the motive behind the act. People lit candles in the square, and black flags and Polish flags with black ribbons were also seen around the city.
The square was partially closed on Sunday morning, and investigations are ongoing. The 24-year-old suspect, who was wearing military clothing at the time of the attack, randomly shot at people. He was injured by police and is currently in critical condition in the hospital.
Polish officials stated that the man held far-right extremist and nationalist views. Marcin Kierwiński, the Minister of the Interior, said at a press conference, "All signs indicate that he was interested in far-right ideologies."
Among the deceased is a British citizen, and among the injured are citizens from Austria, Britain, Germany, Portugal, and Russia. Two police officers were also injured while confronting the suspect and are hospitalized. Authorities have requested blood donations for one of the officers who is in critical condition.
The Krakow Carriage Drivers Association informed the Polish news agency PAP that several carriage drivers were also seriously injured in the shooting. Police announced on Sunday that several weapons were discovered in the suspect's apartment.
The suspect had no prior criminal record, and according to Polish media, he and his father were members of a shooting club.
