The 24-year-old man who shot six people dead in Krakow’s Main Market Square has died of his injuries in hospital, Polish authorities said on Monday.
The gunman opened fire in the historic square on Saturday, killing six people and wounding 15 others in one of the worst mass shootings Poland has seen in years. He died early on Monday, bringing a grim end to the attack that shocked the country.
Police said they found the bodies of three family members at the shooter’s home. Reports in Polish media said the man was fascinated by far-right ideologies, although investigators have not yet confirmed a motive for the attack.
The shooting took place in the heart of Krakow’s old town, a busy tourist area centred on the Main Market Square, one of the largest medieval squares in Europe. The square was crowded on Saturday when the gunman opened fire.
Emergency services rushed the wounded to hospitals across the city, and police sealed off the area as they searched for the attacker. Fifteen people were wounded in the attack, and Poland is now mourning the six victims.
Polish media have described the death of the gunman as the closing of a chapter in a country that has been largely spared from mass shootings and terrorism since the start of the century. The attack has raised questions about how the gunman obtained his weapon and whether any warning signs were missed.
Investigators are continuing to examine the shooter’s background, his home and any material that might explain why he carried out the attack. Authorities have not yet released the names of the victims or given a full account of the sequence of events on Saturday.
As the investigation continues, Krakow’s residents have begun laying flowers and lighting candles in the Main Market Square in memory of those who were killed.
The attack has also prompted discussion in Poland about gun laws and public safety in crowded city centres. The Main Market Square is one of the country’s best-known public spaces, drawing large numbers of visitors throughout the year, and the shooting has left many in the city shaken. Local authorities have said support is being offered to the families of the victims and to those who witnessed the attack.
