Poland mourns six killed in attack as authorities launch ‘terrorism’ probe

A 24-year-old Polish suspect opened fire on Saturday in central Krakow, killing six people and wounding 15 others. The attack happened in the city’s historic centre, where the main market square and nearby streets were later closed. Poland began two days of national mourning as authorities investigated the killings as a possible terrorist offence.

Police later found three more bodies at the suspect’s home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, about 150 kilometres northeast of Krakow. Authorities said the dead were the suspect’s parents and sister. The national prosecutor’s office said it was highly likely the Krakow killings and the home deaths were carried out by the same person, but the investigation was still continuing.

The suspect was wounded during police action and remained in critical condition in hospital. If the two scenes are linked, the known death toll becomes nine. The case therefore involves both a mass shooting in Krakow and a separate family killing discovered afterward.

The attack killed six people in Krakow and wounded 15 others. Three additional deaths were later discovered at the suspect’s home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, so nine people were dead across the two locations. The suspect was also wounded during police action and was in critical condition, but he is separate from the victim totals.

Police said a British national was among those killed in Krakow. Authorities told the PAP news agency that nationals of Austria, Britain, Germany, Portugal and Russia were among the 15 wounded. The article does not give a complete nationality breakdown for all six people killed or all 15 wounded.

The figures show that the incident affected both Polish residents and foreign nationals in a busy historic centre. The death toll could be connected to the three bodies found later, because prosecutors considered it highly likely that the same person carried out both sets of killings. Investigators were still examining that connection.

A terrorism investigation is a criminal inquiry into violence that may have a wider purpose, such as intimidating the public, spreading fear, or influencing government action. An ordinary murder investigation focuses mainly on proving that a person unlawfully killed another person. A terrorism inquiry examines the killings and their possible wider motive, planning, ideology, targets, and public impact.

In Krakow, the National Prosecutor’s Office said it was investigating the killing of six people with a firearm and the attempted murder of many others, including police officers. It described the act as constituting a terrorist offence. The Interior Minister said the attacker was influenced by far-right and ultranationalist views, making ideology a possible focus.

The classification can affect which prosecutors and agencies lead the case and which evidence they prioritize. It does not, by itself, prove a motive or determine guilt. The article states that the terrorism investigation had been launched, while the suspect’s motive and the links to the three deaths at home were still being investigated.

To determine whether one person committed both sets of killings, investigators would compare physical, digital and eyewitness evidence from Krakow and Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski. Common tools include ballistics testing, DNA and fingerprint analysis, gunshot residue, CCTV footage, phone or travel records, and witness statements. The aim is to connect the suspect, weapon, locations and timing.

The Krakow investigation involved a firearm, so specialists could examine bullets and cartridge cases for marks made by the same gun. They could also compare traces from the suspect, the weapon, the victims and the home. A timeline could test whether one person could have travelled between the locations. These methods are standard investigative approaches; the article does not list which have been used.

The National Prosecutor’s Office said it was highly likely the Krakow killings and the deaths at the home were carried out by the same person. However, Daniel Prokopowicz said investigations were ongoing. That wording means authorities had a strong working conclusion, not a final public finding.

When an attack is classified as a terrorist offence, authorities may treat it as a threat to public safety and national security, not only as a series of individual murders. Prosecutors can coordinate across agencies, examine ideology and networks, and use investigative powers available under terrorism laws. Courts may also impose specific or more severe penalties, depending on the country’s law and the proven conduct.

In Krakow, the National Prosecutor’s Office opened a terrorism investigation into six killings and attempted murders, including attacks on police officers. Security consequences were immediate. The main market square and surrounding streets stayed closed, and only essential service workers were allowed through. Police and prosecutors continued examining the suspect’s ideology and possible links between the two locations.

The article does not state which final charges or sentence would apply. It also does not say that an official conviction has occurred. The classification signals a serious investigative and security response, while courts would still need evidence to establish the offence, motive and the suspect’s responsibility.

Far-right ideology is a broad term for extreme political beliefs often linked to exclusion, authoritarianism, hostility toward minorities or rejection of democratic equality. Ultranationalism treats the nation as superior and demands unusually intense loyalty to it. These labels cover different movements, so their exact meaning depends on the evidence and context.

Investigators may examine ideology because it can help explain why an attack happened, whom the attacker selected, or whether the violence was intended to frighten a wider population. They might review statements, online activity, contacts, writings and previous conduct. In this case, Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said the attacker was influenced by far-right and ultranationalist ideologies and views.

That statement identifies a possible motive, not a proven one. The article does not provide the suspect’s specific beliefs, writings or associations. Authorities still had to establish what happened, whether the home deaths were linked, and whether the conduct met the legal definition of terrorism. The investigation remained ongoing.

A gun licence usually means a person met the legal requirements known to authorities when permission was granted. It does not mean officials can predict every future action or continuously observe the licence holder. A person may later develop harmful beliefs, conceal a plan, or act without previous warning. Specific rules and checks vary by country, and the article does not describe Poland’s licensing system.

Media reports said Michal O had a valid gun licence and no prior criminal record. The article also says he opened fire in Krakow, killing six people and wounding 15, while three more bodies were later found at his home. Those facts show why a clean record and legal ownership do not automatically rule out future violence.

The case highlights the limits of firearm regulation rather than proving that licensing is ineffective. Regulation can set eligibility rules, track lawful ownership and respond to known risks. It cannot eliminate risks that are not detected. Investigators will need to establish how the weapon was obtained, whether rules were followed, and whether any warning signs were missed.