Reactions to Poland Terror Attack That Killed Brit as Police Praised Heroes

Mass Shooting in Kraków

A gunman killed six people and injured 16 people during a Saturday afternoon shooting spree in Kraków’s Main Square, according to reports by ITV News and Notes From Poland.

The 24-year-old suspect drove through the historic Old Town area of Poland’s second-largest city around 3:30 p.m., opening fire with an automatic weapon at multiple locations in the crowded market square. Police arrived at the scene 23 seconds after receiving the first emergency call, according to reporting by The Guardian.

Four women and two men died in the attack. Three of the women were Polish citizens aged 47, 53, and 61, the fourth was a 51-year-old foreign national whose nationality has not been announced, and the two men were a 32-year-old British man and a Polish man in his 50s, as reported by Notes From Poland. ITV News reported that five foreign nationals were among the wounded.

CCTV footage shows the moment two police officers confront the Krakow shooter. pic.twitter.com/vcQ0Xvi1nX

— Post by @WarMonitor3 on X

Police Officers and Surgeons Hailed

Two Polish police officers who engaged and detained the gunman have been hailed as heroes. The officers are Jakub Kulik, a former paratrooper and volunteer firefighter, and Artur Morański, according to The Guardian. Both officers are under 30 years old and remain hospitalized after undergoing surgery for gunshot wounds.

Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, said on Saturday in a post on X: “They probably saved many human lives, disregarding the risk to their own.”

⚫️"Tato, strzelają do ludzi!". Lekarz ujawnia kulisy zamachu Prof. Michał Pędziwiatr i dr Mateusz Wierdak byli w pobliskiej restauracji, gdy doszło do strzelaniny. Zanim przyjechały karetki, lekarze udzielili pomocy rannym. – Wyszliśmy na zewnątrz. Już się żegnaliśmy. Nagle mój…

— Post by @wirtualnapolska on X

Two local surgeons, Michał Pędziwiatr and Mateusz Wierdak, were eating nearby and stepped in to provide immediate medical assistance before ambulances arrived. Wierdak focused on the wounded officer who subdued the attacker, stopping his chest bleeding without protection or gloves, according to ITV News. Pędziwiatr told the Polish news website Onet that this action likely saved the officer’s life.

Public authorities and the military launched a national drive for blood donations to support Kulik, who remains in critical condition following the close-range exchange of fire, Notes From Poland reported.

❗Kiedyś żołnierz 6 Brygady Powietrznodesantowej, dziś policjant i bohater- starszy posterunkowy Jakub Kulik, który wczoraj został ranny w zamachu w Krakowie potrzebuje naszego wsparcia. Ranny policjant przebywa w szpitalu. Potrzebna jest krew grupy AB Rh+. Krew można oddać…

— Post by @KosiniakKamysz on X

Prosecutors investigate the killings as an act of terror

The National Prosecutor’s Office announced a formal investigation into the killings as an act of terror, according to Notes From Poland. Polish interior minister Marcin Kierwiński stated that initial findings indicate the suspect held radical views and was fascinated by far-right ideologies.

Authorities subsequently searched the suspect’s family home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, located about 93 miles northeast of Kraków, according to ITV News. Police discovered the bodies of his mother, father, and sister, all of whom are believed to have been shot dead prior to the market square attack.

Ed Miliband issued a statement expressing condolences and emphasizing that the United Kingdom stands in solidarity with Poland. Kraków Mayor Łukasz Gibala announced via X that the city will observe a period of mourning until November 11.

What questions remain about the casualties and investigation

What is the current condition of the injured police officers?

Both Jakub Kulik and Artur Morański were brought out of medically induced comas on Sunday and remain hospitalized after undergoing surgery, according to reports by The Guardian and ITV News.

My thoughts are with the victims‘ loved ones of the terrible #Krakow-attack. May the victims be never forgotten. Support for the authorities to investigate & to bring justice. 🖤🇵🇱 @donaldtusk @sikorskiradek @AndrzejHalicki @Adamowicz_Magda @simon_slowik https://t.co/k0qcmNdXGt

— Post by @lukasmandl on X

How many foreign nationals were among the casualties?

Five foreign nationals were among the 16 injured, while a 32-year-old British man and an unidentified foreign woman were among the six fatalities, as reported by ITV News and Notes From Poland.

What prompted the terror investigation by Polish prosecutors?

The National Prosecutor’s Office opened the formal terror investigation following the Saturday afternoon vehicle shooting in Kraków’s Main Square and preliminary findings regarding the suspect’s far-right ideology, Notes From Poland reported.

More on this story: Kraków Terror Attack Kills Six as Officials Cite Far-Right Ideology · Donald Tusk Calls Krakow Mass Shooting an Act of Terrorism

The tragic shooting in Kraków, which has claimed lives and left several people injured, is deeply saddening. My heartfelt condolences go to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and I wish all those injured a speedy recovery. 😞@donaldtusk, Latvia stands in…

— Post by @AndrisKulbergs on X