by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

KRAKOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Polish authorities investigating a mass shooting that killed six people and wounded at least 16 others in the historic city of Krakow said Sunday that the suspected gunman held radical far-right views, while three more bodies were discovered at his family home.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that two women and a man, believed to be close relatives of the attacker, were found dead at a residence in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, about 150 kilometers (93 miles) northeast of Krakow.

The discovery raised the number of deaths potentially linked to Saturday’s violence to nine, although investigators had not established the circumstances surrounding the three additional deaths.

Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the suspected attacker, a Polish citizen in his mid-20s, appeared to have been influenced by extremist nationalist beliefs. “Everything indicates that he was fascinated by far-right ideologies,” Kierwiński told reporters.

The minister described the suspect’s views as “very radical,” while Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz characterized the mass shooting as an “act of terror.”

FAR-RIGHT EXTREMISM

Authorities explained that the gunman drove into Krakow’s Main Market Square shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday and began firing at people in the crowded tourist area.

The attacker, wearing military-style clothing and a bulletproof vest, fired a military-style rifle at people apparently at random, according to investigators.

Video footage seen by Worthy News showed crowds running for cover as gunshots echoed through the streets. Other footage showed a motionless body lying on the ground as gunfire continued.

Police said the six people killed included four women and two men. Four victims had been identified by Saturday evening, including three Polish women and a British citizen, while five foreign nationals were among the wounded.

Officers confronted the suspect a short distance from the square, where he exchanged gunfire with police before being shot, wounded and detained.

POLICE OFFICERS WOUNDED

Two police officers suffered gunshot wounds. One was in critical condition after being shot three times, while the other sustained a single gunshot wound and was not believed to be in immediate danger of death.

Kierwiński praised the rapid police response, adding that officers opened fire on the attacker within three minutes of receiving the emergency report, potentially preventing an even greater loss of life.

The suspect remained in serious condition in hospital after undergoing a second operation, authorities announced. Police reported that he continued firing even after being wounded.

Polish police chief Andrzej Fijolek stressed that the attacker held a firearms licence, although the legal status of the weapon used in the shooting remained unclear. Authorities said he had no previous criminal record and had never served in the Polish armed forces.

Tusk disclosed the discovery of three bodies at the suspect’s family home after traveling to Krakow for an emergency security briefing with senior officials.

THREE RELATIVES FOUND DEAD

Polish police confirmed Sunday that the three victims were the suspect’s parents and 21-year-old sister. Investigators reported apparent gunshot wounds on their bodies and recovered seven firearms from the residence.

Authorities were examining the circumstances of their deaths, as well as the suspect’s reported extremist views, background, and possible motives.

Authorities said they recovered additional firearms and ammunition from his vehicle and searched his residence as part of the investigation.

Police indicated there was no evidence that more than one attacker had been involved in the Krakow shooting.

The attack also damaged a tram near the historic square, shattering a window in the driver’s cabin. No injuries were reported aboard the vehicle.

CITY DECLARES MOURNING

Emergency crews, ambulances and armed police rushed to the scene Saturday, while a medical rescue helicopter landed in the square as authorities evacuated victims and secured surrounding streets.

The injured were taken to six hospitals across Krakow, and two had been discharged by Saturday evening, Kierwiński said. Authorities later clarified that 17 people were injured, including the suspected gunman. Two police officers were among the wounded, officials said.

Krakow Mayor Łukasz Gibała declared official mourning through Wednesday, November 11, as residents struggled to come to terms with the violence.

President Karol Nawrocki also initiated procedures for two days of national mourning, while Prime Minister Tusk urged political leaders not to exploit the tragedy.

U.S. Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose condemned the killings, writing on social media: “America stands with Poland at this dark hour as Poland stands with her beloved citizens of Krakow.”

EUROPEAN SECURITY CONCERNS

Security was increased in Warsaw, where Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski announced additional protective measures, including barriers along streets in the capital’s historic center.

The neighboring Czech Republic also strengthened security in crowded public areas, deploying additional armed police patrols, although authorities cautioned there was no known direct connection between the attack and their country.

The killings shocked Poland, where mass shootings are relatively uncommon and firearms ownership is regulated.

Krakow, Poland’s second-largest city, has approximately 817,000 residents and lies roughly 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of Warsaw.

The city is renowned for its medieval architecture, churches and historic Main Market Square, which forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

HISTORIC TOURIST CITY

Around 15 million tourists visit Krakow annually, with many passing through its historic center, a major destination for visitors, pilgrims and residents.

The violence came amid heightened security concerns across Europe because of Russia’s war in neighboring Ukraine, although authorities announced no connection between the Krakow shooting and the conflict.

As Poland mourned one of its deadliest shootings in decades, investigators faced questions about the attacker’s preparations, the circumstances surrounding the three additional deaths and whether warning signs had been missed.

Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.