Krakow market square shooting kills six, investigated as terror act
At least six people died after a gunman opened fire in Krakow's main square on Saturday. Polish prosecutors have opened a terrorism investigation.
Krakow attack: prosecutor opens terrorism probe after six killed in market square shooting
Prosecutors in Poland formally opened a terrorism investigation on Sunday into Saturday's mass shooting in Krakow's main market square, Prosecutor Tomasz Waszczuk told abcnews.com. At least six people were killed and 16 others injured when shots were fired in the historic square.
The 24-year-old suspected gunman was shot and wounded by police during a chase and remains in critical condition in hospital. He has undergone several operations, police spokesperson Katarzyna Cislo told ABC News, and his condition has not improved despite medical intervention. Because of his medical state, he has not yet been formally detained. Prosecutors are awaiting clearance from doctors before he can be questioned.
Preliminary findings indicate the attacker was allegedly "influenced by far-right ideology," Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said at a press briefing on Saturday. Asked about the motive, Waszczuk confirmed: "The findings so far point to exactly these motives behind the attack."
Waszczuk said prosecutors are preparing six murder charges in connection with the deaths in Krakow. That figure could rise to nine if investigators establish that the attacker also killed three family members found dead in his apartment in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski. Polish police confirmed to ABC News that the three victims were his 53-year-old father, his 52-year-old mother and his 21-year-old sister, aged 21. Prime Minister Donald Tusk had announced the discovery of the bodies on Saturday.
Counterterrorism officers spent the night searching the apartment over concerns that the attacker may have left explosives behind. The operation concluded on Sunday morning. Asked whether others were involved, Waszczuk said: "For now, the evidence collected does not indicate that other people were involved. Of course, we will continue to check this." Investigators are examining evidence from several locations and looking into the attacker's background.
Among the 16 injured were 11 Polish nationals and five foreign nationals — one each from Austria, Portugal, Germany, Britain and Russia — according to six Krakow hospitals that confirmed the nationalities to ABC News. Two of the injured Polish nationals have since been discharged.
Police confirmed that a 32-year-old British man was among those killed. One of the deceased women has not yet been identified, meaning authorities cannot rule out further foreign fatalities. Two police officers wounded during the incident survived the night. One was brought out of a medically induced coma on Sunday morning; the other remains in an induced coma in a relatively stable condition.
Police issued an appeal for AB Rh+ blood donations for Senior Constable Jakub Kulik, who was seriously wounded while confronting the attacker and is fighting for his life in hospital.
Krakow's main square was closed again on Sunday morning as investigators continued their work at the scene. Cislo said she could not confirm how long the square would remain off-limits.
Poland announced a two-day period of national mourning beginning on Sunday, with flags to be flown at half-mast across the country.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)