Michal O., the 24-year-old Polish citizen suspected of killing six people in a mass shooting at Krakow’s Main Market Square, died in a hospital on Monday morning, dw.com reported.
The suspect passed away following three surgeries after being critically wounded in a shootout with police, according to the Krakow Police statement cited by dw.com. The attack occurred shortly before 15:00 local time on Saturday, when the masked assailant wearing military gear opened indiscriminate fire in Rynek Glowny, killing four Polish nationals, one British citizen, and one Austrian woman.
The assailant drove his vehicle to an intersection before opening fire on two police officers with a semi-automatic rifle. Investigators noted that the suspect had no prior criminal record.
Following the bloody assault, a search of the suspect’s home in the city of Ostrowiec Switokrzyski revealed three more bodies, which turned out to be the suspect’s mother, father, and 21-year-old sister. The Interior Ministry announced that the injured foreign nationals were from Austria, Britain, Germany, Portugal, and Russia.
Here is why that matters for regional security: Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski stated during a Sunday press conference that preliminary findings point to the attacker holding “extremely radical” and “far-right nationalist” views, as reported by dw.com. Kierwinski stated, Her şey, saldırganın aşırı sağ ideolojiye ilgi duyduğuna işaret ediyor
while noting that the perpetrator acted alone and had “extremely radical” and “far-right nationalist” views influenced by far-right ideology.
BBC noted that armed police reached the scene and shot the suspect within three minutes of the opening shots, an intervention authorities credited with preventing a far greater loss of life.
Michal Pędziwiatr explained to the BBC on Sunday that his colleague undoubtedly saved the life of a critically wounded police officer, recounting how they witnessed the armed attack and decided to help the injured as quickly as possible without waiting for ambulances.
Beyond the carnage in the historic square, investigators uncovered additional bodies at the suspect’s family home. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that searches of the property in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski—located about 150 kilometers northeast of Krakow—revealed the remains of the gunman’s 53-year-old father, 52-year-old mother, and 21-year-old sister, according to bbc.com and ntv.com.tr.
Visiting Krakow, Prime Minister Tusk stated, Polonya’da şimdiye kadar böylesine ağır terör vakaları yaşamamıştık
regarding the severity of the events.
Malopolska Regional Governor Krzysztof Jan Kleczar noted that the suspect’s father legally owned more than 10 firearms, and the gunman also possessed registered weapons, dw.com reported.
| Metric / Detail | Reported Figure | Source Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Casualties at Krakow Market Square | 6 dead, 16 injured (including 5 foreign nationals) | dw.com, bbc.com |
| Suspect Profile | 24-year-old Polish male | dw.com, bbc.com |
| Additional Victims Found at Home | 3 family members (mother, father, sister) | dw.com, bbc.com, ntv.com.tr |
| National Mourning Declared | Two-day national yas starting Sunday | dw.com, bbc.com |
Prosecution authorities emphasized that the formal investigation into the incident, officially classified as a terrorist attack, will continue despite the suspect’s death, dw.com reported. Following the attack, a two-day national period of mourning was declared in Poland starting Sunday. Meanwhile, international leaders expressed solidarity with Poland. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz shared on X that the events deeply shocked him, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Europe stands with Poland in grief and solidarity, according to Euronews.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his shock and sorrow following the tragic shooting in Krakow, while British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated he was shaken and saddened by the events. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote, Yaralılara hızlı bir iyileşme diliyorum
and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda expressed deep sadness over the tragic shooting.
Dünya Liderleri Krakow'daki Saldırı Için Taziyelerini Sundu
İngiltere, Polonya halkıyla dayanışma içindedir German Chancellor Friedrich Merz noted, Krakow’da yaşanan olaylar beni derinden sarstı. Kalbim hayatını kaybedenlerle ve aileleriyle birlikte. Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics stated,
Krakow’daki silahlı saldırıya ilişkin korkunç haberler aldık. Bu yas günlerinde Polonya yalnız değil
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola emphasized, Krakow’daki Rynek Glowny’de yaşanan silahlı saldırıyı büyük bir üzüntüyle öğrendiğini
and added, Kalbim masum kurbanlarla ve aileleriyle birlikte. Tüm yaralılara hızlı ve tam bir iyileşme diliyorum. Tüm yaralılara hızlı ve tam bir iyileşme diliyorum. Macaristan, Polonya ve Polonya halkıyla dayanışma içindedir
Furthermore, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that Germany stands by Poland as a friend and partner in these difficult times.
