The gunman who killed at least six people during a mass shooting in Kraków, Poland, has died in hospital, police have confirmed, according to Reuters.
The suspect, a Polish citizen in his 20s, was shot and wounded by police during the attack on Saturday in the historic Main Market Square of the southern city.
He was subsequently taken to hospital, where he underwent multiple surgeries but remained in critical condition until his death.
The shooting, which left six people dead and 16 others injured, including two police officers, has shocked the country and prompted national mourning and increased security.
Authorities are investigating the incident as a possible terrorist attack, with preliminary findings suggesting a far-right ideological motive.
According to Kraków police, the attacker drove into the city’s main market square, a popular destination for tourists and residents, and opened fire randomly, initially shooting from his vehicle. Four women and two men were killed in the attack.
The suspect was reportedly dressed in military-style clothing and used “military weapons,” Police Deputy Inspector Katarzyna Cisło told Polish news outlet TVN24. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from his vehicle.
Authorities also discovered the bodies of the suspect’s sister, mother and father at his residence in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, a town about 120 miles northeast of Kraków.
Poland’s prosecutor’s office said on Sunday that it was “highly likely” the killings were carried out by the same individual, although investigations were still ongoing.
A total of 11 firearms were recovered from the shooting scene and the suspect’s residence, according to a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office.
Suspect’s alleged far-right links
Although the gunman’s identity has not been made public, Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said he was fascinated with far-right ideologies and held “very radical views.”
Authorities are also examining symbols found on his clothing to determine their significance.
An interior ministry spokesperson, Karolina Galecka, told radio TOK FM that the emblems were under investigation.
“These patches were associated with various motifs that are currently being analyzed by specialists,” Galecka said, according to Reuters.
The suspect was also reportedly a member of a shooting club and appeared to be a highly skilled marksman, the club’s spokesperson, Adam Chyb, told Reuters.
The incident has raised concerns in Poland, a country known for its strict gun ownership regulations. Poland, which has a population of more than 37 million, has about 411,000 people holding gun permits, according to the Associated Press.
Off-duty surgeons assist victims
Two surgeons who were off duty rushed to the scene and provided emergency medical assistance to victims of the shooting.
One of them, Michal Pedziwiatr, said he had just finished lunch with his family when he heard what sounded like gunshots.
He and his friend, Mateusz Wierdak, immediately began treating the wounded.
Pedziwiatr described his friend as a “hero” for saving the life of a police officer who had subdued the attacker.
Wierdak reportedly treated the officer without protective equipment, applying pressure to the bleeding wound and inserting gauze into the chest cavity.
The two injured police officers underwent surgery and remained in hospital as of Sunday. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised their actions, saying they had saved “many lives.”
