Poland shooting: Death toll rises to nine

Nine people have been killed in a shooting spree by a 24-year-old Polish gunman wielding an AR-15 military-style rifle at the main square in the Polish city of Kraków, casting a shadow of grief and fear across Poland and Europe.

Polish officials said, on Saturday (November 7) that the attacker had been arrested after being wounded by police gunfire. The bodies of two women and a man were recovered from his home. Officials said, the suspect was believed to have been influenced by far-right ideology. There were strong indications that the victims could be close relatives of the attacker.

At around 3PM on Saturday, the gunman, dressed in military-style clothing, stepped out of a black car and opened fire indiscriminately with an AR-15 rifle, targeting tourists and pedestrians in a square surrounded by cafes and restaurants.

Witnesses said, panic broke out in the square as gunshots and police sirens rang out. Many people took shelter in nearby shops and a local police station. Police arrived at the scene within three minutes of receiving the report, opened fire on the gunman and arrested him.

Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the swift police response had helped prevent an even greater massacre.

Police said the 24-year-old suspect had a valid firearms licence. A large quantity of weapons and ammunition was recovered from his car. Fearing that his home might contain more weapons, authorities conducted drone surveillance and evacuated nearby residents before launching an operation by the counterterrorism agency.

The Interior Minister said preliminary findings indicated that the attacker had been influenced by far-right ideology.

Poland's Internal Security Agency is conducting a detailed investigation into the incident.

Following the attack, the Polish president declared two days of national mourning on November 8 and 9.

World leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, expressed deep condolences over the incident.

Source: NDTV