A gunman believed to be influenced by far-right ideology opened fire in the center of Poland's second-largest city, killing six people and wounding more than 10 others.
Police said the suspect drove a vehicle into Krakow's main square, a tourist attraction, on Saturday afternoon and shot indiscriminately at people.
The suspect, wearing military-style weapons and military uniform, was injured in a shootout with police. One police officer was also seriously injured in the process.
The 25-year-old Polish male suspect, who was described as an 'extreme nationalist' by a minister, was taken to the hospital to undergo surgery.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said three additional bodies were discovered during a search of the suspect's home about 200 kilometers from Krakow.
Prime Minister Tusk said there was strong evidence to suggest that the two women and one man who died were likely immediate family members of the suspect.
He said, “Until now, such an extreme terrorist incident has never occurred in Poland,” and “This brutal attack on people in Krakow has no choice but to be called terrorism.”
Four women and two men died in the square. According to authorities, three of the dead were Polish, one was British, and the remaining two have not yet been identified.
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British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was "shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific shooting that occurred in Krakow today."
He added, “We express our condolences to the families of the victims, the injured, and all those affected by this indiscriminate violence,” adding, “The UK stands in solidarity with the Polish people.”
The shooting began in Krakow's historic city center just before 3pm local time (2pm GMT). This is a square surrounded by gorgeous buildings and has been a popular attraction for tourists for a long time.
The released video showed the suspect's vehicle speeding through the city center at high speed and people running away while gunshots rang out.
Bullets shattered the store's glass facade, and a tank was also hit during the attack. Police said the shooting continued for about three minutes.
Photos from the scene showed overturned tables and belongings scattered everywhere as people ran for their lives.
Armed police chased the suspect's vehicle, and after the vehicle crashed, they engaged in a shootout with the suspect.
The shocking video, the authenticity of which was confirmed by the BBC's verification team, captured the moment a police officer approached a suspect lying on the ground and confronted him.
The officer, who was visibly injured, was later captured on video collapsing to the ground.
Polish government officials later said one police officer was in critical condition, while the other suffered relatively minor injuries and was expected to recover.
Prime Minister Tusk identified the men as Senior Constable Yakub Kulik and Senior Constable Artur Moranski, saying the two officers "saved many lives." He then called them “true heroes.”
The gunman was wearing full military tactical gear at the time of the attack and was reported to be carrying military-grade weapons. However, the Polish government said he was not a member of the Polish military.
Additional firearms and ammunition were also found in the vehicle of the suspect, who has not yet been identified.
Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierbinski said, "All circumstances show that the suspect was steeped in far-right ideology and held extreme nationalist views."
Prime Minister Tusk promised to detain anyone "who may have supported the suspects who committed the crime" and asked citizens to provide relevant information.
image copyrightReuters
Of the 15 injured, two were police officers and five were foreigners. Poland's Interior Ministry said they were from the UK, Austria, Russia, Germany and Portugal.
Kaya Kalas, the European Union's high representative for foreign affairs and security, said the incident was "a tragedy that will have repercussions far beyond Poland."
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said on social media that the British government deeply mourns the victims of the "appalling attack".
He added, “I send my deepest condolences to all the victims’ families.”
The British Foreign Office updated its safety advice for travel to Poland following the attack and urged people in the area to follow guidance from local authorities.
Witnesses near the scene of the attack reported that the area around the square was engulfed in fear and confusion during the incident.
Cesary, a 24-year-old Polish university student living in Krakow, said it was only after he saw four bodies on the street that he realized what sounded like a loud explosion had been gunshots.
“You could still hear gunshots and a lot of people screaming,” he said. He added that he also witnessed someone trying to revive a person who was lying on the floor covered in blood with CPR.
Caitlin Shasby, from Newcastle, England, said she heard gunfire from her hotel room and was told to shelter indoors while police "barricaded" the road outside the hotel.
Another eyewitness told Polish news website Interioria:
“I saw shots fired from the driver’s window and smoke was billowing out.
I ran to the police station in the central square. “When I ran into the police station, it was full of people lying on the floor and hiding.”
A period of mourning has been declared in Krakow until November 11.
