Krakow mass shooting kills six including British national, gunman in hospital
A British man is among six people killed in a suspected far-right terror attack in Krakow's Main Square. A second Briton is among 16 injured.
British national among six dead in Krakow terror attack, two police officers hailed as heroes
A British man was among six people shot dead in a suspected terror attack in Krakow on Saturday afternoon, itv.com reports. A second British national is among 16 people wounded, including the 24-year-old suspected gunman, who was shot by police and remains in hospital.
Four women and two men were killed. Local officials confirmed that three of the women and one man were Polish citizens; the other man killed was British. The nationality of the fourth woman has not yet been established.
Five foreign nationals — from the UK, Portugal, Russia, Germany and Austria — were among those wounded.
The shooting began at around 3.30pm when the gunman, armed with an automatic weapon, opened fire in the Old Town area of Poland's second-largest city. He drove to multiple positions within the historic Main Square, discharging his weapon at each location, authorities said.
A video circulated on social media showed a police officer shooting the attacker repeatedly as he lay in the street, before the officer slowly collapsed to the ground.
The two officers who intervened to stop the gunman, in what authorities described as a heroic action, both remained conscious by Sunday afternoon and were still being treated in hospital. "If it weren't for the efficient and selfless intervention of these two young men, the number of victims could have been significantly higher," said Krzysztof Jan Klęczar, the Malopolska regional governor.
Two local surgeons, Michał Pędziwiatr and Mateusz Wierdak, who happened to be eating nearby, also stepped in and were widely praised. Wierdak "took care of the officer who subdued the attacker because he truly needed urgent help," Pędziwiatr told the Polish news website onet. "Without protection, without gloves, he simply focused on the officer, stopping the bleeding in his chest. This probably saved his life."
Authorities additionally found three bodies at the suspected gunman's family home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, a city approximately 93 miles north-east of Krakow. Police said on Sunday the victims were his sister, mother and father, believed to have been shot.
Polish police commander-in-chief Marek Boron confirmed at a press conference on Saturday night that six people had been killed and 16 injured, including two police officers and the gunman himself. He said investigations at the perpetrator's residence were ongoing.
Polish interior minister Marcin Kierwinski said the attacker held "very radical views" and "was fascinated by far-right ideologies". Defence minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz described Saturday's shooting as "an act of terror" against the people of Krakow.
Neil Thaxton, from Knottingley in West Yorkshire, was in the area when shots rang out. He wrote on Facebook: "We had just walked through the main square and heard the gunshots. We thought it was fireworks then people started running. We went into a gift shop and the staff took us in the back of the shop and locked the doors and turned the lights off. It was quite scary for 5–10 minutes, fortunately we're alright, our thoughts are with the ones who've lost their lives and their loved ones."
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was "shocked and saddened by the appalling shooting in Krakow." He added: "The United Kingdom stands in solidarity with the people of Poland."
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said on Sunday the events were "profoundly shocking" and extended his condolences to those bereaved, noting that the British victim's name had not yet been released publicly.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said in a statement: "The UK Government deeply mourns the British national and other victims who have died after the appalling attack in Krakow. All of my deepest condolences go to the families of the victims. The UK stands resolutely in solidarity with the people of Poland."
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is advising British nationals in Krakow to follow the advice of local authorities and monitor local media.
Krakow mayor Lukasz Gibala announced on X that the city would observe a period of mourning until 11 November.
Source: The Sun