Six arrested for false information following shooting in Krakow
The Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime arrested six people who published disinformation posts about Saturday's attack on the Main Market Square in Krakow. Among those detained are five Polish nationals and one Ukrainian citizen.
Police arrest those spreading disinformation following Krakow shooting
Officers of the Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime detained six people within the past 24 hours who published false information concerning Saturday's attack on Krakow's Main Market Square. According to rp.pl, those arrested — five Polish nationals and a Ukrainian citizen — admitted to spreading false messages on the internet.
The attack on the Main Market Square in Krakow took place on Saturday after 3 p.m. A masked 24-year-old drove a car into a crowd and opened fire on pedestrians. As a result of the shooting, six people were killed and 16 were injured, including two police officers. The perpetrator was shot by officers and taken to hospital, where he died on Monday morning.
Police explained that they monitor the internet in search of content that could indicate a threat to life or health. Following the Krakow tragedy, numerous messages appeared on the internet aimed at causing chaos and panic. The creators of such posts exploited the tragedy to gain attention on social media by publishing fabricated content. As the CBZC emphasised, one of the reasons for spreading false information was the desire to make a joke.
Officers pointed out that false messages are often thoughtlessly spread by other internet users, which deepens the effects of disinformation. Officers remind the public that anonymity online is illusory, and publishing this type of content carries serious legal consequences.
One of those detained, Emil W. from Warsaw, was charged with filing a false alarm. During the night from Saturday to Sunday, he posted on the "Kanał Zero" portal saying: "don't worry, tomorrow action in Warsaw, be careful on the streets", alluding to the Krakow attack. The post prompted police action to avert the alleged threat.
The suspect explained that his message did not concern a planned attack in Warsaw, but rather anticipated disturbances outside the Constitutional Tribunal. However, the prosecution found that posting the message as a comment under a report of the tragic event in Krakow was caused by thoughtlessness. By order of the prosecutor, he was placed under supervision combined with reporting to the police station once a week. He faces from six months to eight years in prison.
The perpetrator of the shooting on the Main Market Square possessed a firearms licence. Officers found four firearms in his car, including two AR-15 rifles and two pistols, as well as approximately 500 rounds of ammunition. The man had no previous convictions or police record.
At the perpetrator's home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, the bodies of three family members were discovered: a 53-year-old father, a 52-year-old mother, and a 21-year-old sister. The bodies bore gunshot wounds.
Source: Google News PL — Crime (pl)