Polish Police Say Krakow Gunman Dies in Hospital After Historic Main Square Shooting

Gunman dies after Krakow attack

Polish Police said the suspect in Saturday’s mass shooting in Krakow died in hospital early Monday morning, adding, "We are reporting that the perpetrator of the tragic events died in hospital early this morning,". Al Jazeera said the gunman killed six people and wounded more than a dozen in central Krakow last week, and it described the attack as taking place in the city’s Krakow historic main square. BBC Scotland News reported that Ciaran McMenemy and Charlie Hutchison, both from Aberdeen, said they felt like "sitting ducks" as the shooting began while they were sightseeing in Krakow.

Prosecutors in Poland opened an investigation into an act of terrorism, and ABC7 Los Angeles said prosecutors were preparing six murder charges in connection with the people killed in Krakow. CBC said the shooter was shot by police officers and arrested minutes after he opened fire at people at Krakow’s historic main square from his car.

+2Terrorism investigation8 of 12 outlets reported it · not in ABC7 Los Angeles and 3 more▾

Reporting for this sectionAl JazeeraABC7 Los Angeles

Far-right motive disputed

Polish prosecutors and police described the attack as a terrorism case, while CBC reported that National Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Przemyslaw Nowak said investigators "did not yet know what motivated the killer." Prosecutors said it was "too early" to tell if the Krakow gunman was motivated by political ideology, and it quoted Nowak saying, "We do not have findings that we could, in a responsible way, categorically state that he was inspired by any particular ideology." Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the shooter was fascinated by far-right ideologies and held "very radical" and "ultranationalistic" views.

+2Ideology link not found8 of 12 outlets reported it · not in ABC7 Los Angeles and 3 more▾

Poland’s interior minister told Polish media the suspect was fascinated by "far-right ideologies," and it added that the man carried out the attack in full military fatigues and wore "many different emblems" that investigators had partially examined and interpreted. Government spokesperson Adam Szlapka told TVN24, "Until the matter is fully clarified and the authorities are in possession of complete information, it is best to refrain from making comments" about political views.

Reporting for this sectionThe GuardianCBC

Investigation continues, mourning spreads

Investigators continued examining evidence after the gunman’s death, and CBC said Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek told Radio Zet, "Evidence is being collected, but I will not show or disclose it. I ask for restraint."

Prosecutors found the bodies of the suspect’s sister, mother and father at the family home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, and it reported that the bodies were found after the attack.

+4Family found dead10 of 12 outlets reported it · not in CNN and 1 more▾

BBC Scotland News said the two Aberdeen friends fled and took shelter during the shooting, and it quoted McMenemy saying, "We feared for our lives."

Kraków police spokesperson Katarzyna Cisło described the shooting as a "wild ride" around the square, and it said the square reopened late on Sunday.

Mourners laid candles and flowers near bullet holes at the square, and it said the two police officers who stopped the gunman were injured and remained in hospital.

Reporting for this sectionCBCBBC