Violence hits Europe again. It has been more than a decade since the Old Continent began to suffer waves of attacks and indiscriminate attacks against innocent people. Charlie Hebdo, Bataclan, Nice, Amsterdam airport, Strasbourg or more recently the attempted assassination of the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico. If we add to this the war in Ukraine, the threats of hybrid attacks on kyiv's allies and the recent bomb alerts on several European flights, it is not surprising that Europeans live in panic and that the shooting that occurred yesterday in the Polish city of Krakow removes that fear and generates commotion.
A man dressed as a military man yesterday starred in a scene of terror in the heart of the tourist city, as shown in the images recorded by those present. He got out of a car and started shooting indiscriminately, he even confronted the police. At least six people died - four women and two men - and another 16 were injured, according to initial reports. Among the victims it was confirmed that there were foreigners. The scene was reminiscent of those multiple car accidents or stabbings in full view of all passers-by that experienced European streets in the past.
The Police reported that the alleged perpetrator of the attack had been arrested after an armed confrontation with the officers, two of whom were injured. Later, the Minister of the Interior, Marcin Kierwinski. shed some more light on the facts. The suspect, a 25-year-old Pole, was allegedly inspired by "extreme right-wing ideologies." However, he pointed out that it is something that must be verified.
The Polish Prosecutor's Office announced this Sunday that it has opened an investigation for an act of a "terrorist nature." The investigation focuses, among other things, on the murder of six people in Krakow, an act that "constitutes a crime of a terrorist nature," and of three people at the home of the shooter, according to a statement from the Prosecutor's Office.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk sent a message of affection to the families and also a warning to the country's politicians, which is currently experiencing a serious institutional crisis: "Do not use this tragedy. We will clarify all the circumstances of this crime." Tusk traveled to Krakow yesterday to lead the government response to the massacre. He called an extraordinary meeting with several ministers and those responsible for the security services to learn first-hand about the progress of the investigation. In a kind of situation room he appeared before the press last night to give more details. Among them, he noted that two women and a man were found dead in the shooter's house. "There are many indications that they are direct relatives," he added.
The premier described the massacre as an act of "terrorism." "In Poland we had not experienced such radical cases of terrorism, because that is how we must describe this atrocious attack on people's lives here in Krakow," he declared.
There are likely to be more victims, as the governor of Lesser Poland, Krzysztof Jan Klczar, reported that of the 16 injured, 12 were in danger of death.
The attack occurred shortly after 3:00 p.m., when a man driving a black Subaru broke into the vicinity of the Market Square, one of the city's main tourist attractions, and began shooting indiscriminately at pedestrians. According to initial investigations, the vehicle was traveling along Sawkowska Street in the direction of the main square. The attacker, who acted alone, according to the Police, was wearing military-style clothing: balaclava, bulletproof vest, knee pads and tactical clothing, according to the testimony of a witness, a former police officer and councilor of Krakow. According to his story, he fired single shots with an AR-15, not bursts.
Numerous police patrols and emergency teams immediately moved to the scene, where a medical helicopter landed. The shots caused scenes of panic among residents and tourists, who sought refuge in nearby commercial establishments and buildings. The authorities cordoned off the area and asked the population to avoid the place.
The shooter tried to flee in his car until he ended up crashing into another. Upon getting out of the vehicle, the man responded to the fire of the agents, who used their weapons during the operation. The attacker was caught and taken to hospital under police custody. His condition is extremely serious. The Police expressly denied rumors about a second attacker and the death of an officer. According to the Minister of the Interior, one of the agents is in very serious condition, with three gunshot wounds, and is undergoing surgery.
The Minister of the Interior added that everything indicates that the attacker had "very radical ideas" and that in the car he was driving "many weapons were found." The man also shot at a tram, although no injuries were caused to its occupants.
Kierwiski stated that one of the hypotheses is that the weapons used in the attack were stolen from the suspect's family home. He noted that the father has several weapons registered, but that it is "too early" to comment.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and his solidarity with the injured.
At press time, the Prosecutor's Office and police teams continued collecting evidence to reconstruct the attacker's route and determine the circumstances of the shooting.
