Police stopped Krakow attackers – Poles donate one million euros within a few hours

After the terrorist attack in Krakow, the equivalent of more than one million euros was collected within a few hours for two seriously injured police officers. The officers Jakub Kulik and Artur Morański stopped the 24-year-old shooter Michal O. on Saturday and were themselves seriously injured.

Six people were killed in the attack in Krakow's old town. 16 injured people were taken to hospital, including the suspected perpetrator and the two police officers. The shooter died from his injuries on Monday.

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk paid tribute to the officers on "You have probably saved many lives, regardless of the risk of losing your own life. Their condition is serious, but they are being looked after very well. The whole of Poland is keeping its fingers crossed for you."

Both police officers had to undergo complicated surgery after the operation and have now woken up from their coma. A video showed one of the injured officers overpowering the attacker before collapsing himself. Kraków Mayor Łukasz Gibała suggested giving Kulik and Morański honorary citizenship of the city.

A call for donations was also launched for the two officials. "For the heroes of Krakow and their families. For those who risked everything," it says. According to reports, the founder of a media portal initiated the action. Within a few hours, the equivalent of more than a million euros was raised.

There were also calls for blood donations on social networks. Blood from the AB Rh+ group was particularly sought for Jakub Kulik. The former soldier was with the 6th Airborne Brigade before joining the police force. According to the brigade, one of his lungs is not functioning. “Every drop of blood is now worth gold,” they said.

After the attack, three more bodies were discovered in the evening in Michal O.'s apartment in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, around 150 kilometers from Krakow. The dead are the perpetrator's parents and sister, whom he had apparently previously killed.