Krakow shooting suspect has died in hospital, police say

9 November 2026, 06: 23 GMT. Updated 2 hours ago.

Key points

• On Sunday, Polish police confirmed those three victims had been identified as the alleged gunman's 53-year-old father, 52-year-old mother and 21-year-old sister.
• UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham remarked he was "shocked and saddened by the appalling shooting in Kraków".
• The 24-year-old, who authorities stated was apparently inspired by "far-right ideologies", was injured after opening fire in central Krakow, the second largest city in Poland, on Saturday.
• While a British national and an Austrian woman were additionally killed, four victims are Polish.
• Witnesses who were near the Main Market Square have described their panic and confusion as the attack unfolded.

In practice, a gunman suspected of killing six individuals in central Krakow and his parents and sister at their home has died in hospital, Polish police say.

Notably, the 24-year-old, who authorities stated was apparently inspired by "far-right ideologies", was injured after opening fire in central Krakow, the second largest city in Poland, on Saturday.

Armed officers raced to the scene and engaged in a gunfight with the suspect. This person was shot within three minutes of the attack beginning, preventing a further massacre, authorities stated. Krakow police remarked the suspected gunman died early on Monday morning.

After the shooting, which began shortly before 15: 00 local time (14: 00 GMT) in Krakow's busy Main Market Square, police identified the attacker as a 24-year-old Polish man but did not confirm his name.

In the hours after the shooting, a minister remarked early investigations indicate he was inspired by "far-right ideologies". The minister additionally described him as an "ultra-nationalist" without giving further details.

Six individuals – four women and two men – are confirmed to have been killed in the attack.

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk remarked three bodies – two women and one man – were identified at the gunman's house when it was searched after the attack.

Polish media has documented the suspect had a firearms permit and may have obtained the weapons from his family home.

Sixteen individuals, including five foreigners, two police officers and the attacker, were taken to hospital. The interior ministry afterwards stated they were from Austria, Britain, Germany, Portugal and Russia.

Speaking on Sunday, one of the two surgeons who treated victims on the street after the attack remarked his colleague "undoubtedly" saved the life of a gravely injured police officer.

For context, the two surgeons, who were eating near the Main Market Square when the gunman opened fire, rushed to the scene to treat both the attacker and the two injured police officers.

Professor Michal Pędziwiatr informed the BBC: "We saw the shooting attack. And what a surgeon can do in a situation like this?. We decided to support the victims as shortly as feasible."

"We rushed into the area where the shooting was and started our rescue, because there were no ambulances available, there were no professionals around."

Pędziwiatr remarked his colleague. This person has been named by local media as Dr Mateusz Wierdak, employed his hand to stem the bleeding from the most severely injured policeman, allowing time for an ambulance to arrive.

According to On Sunday reports, both injured officers had emerged from comas.

Ruby Catherine Warren, from London, heard gunfire and "yelled at my friends to run and we all sprinted for our lives".

She remarked they "just kept sprinting" until they identified a hotel to shelter inside.

Tom Brook, from West Yorkshire, was inside a McDonald's near the square when he heard "multiple gunshots and saw people running for cover".

"I then walked into the square and saw paramedics working on someone outside and there was a dead body covered in foil blankets 20 meters away, " he remarked.

After the shooting, Poland declared the country would enter two days of national mourning.

After travelling to Krakow, Tusk remarked: "Until now in Poland we haven't had such drastic cases of terrorism.that's what we have to call this cruel attack on people's lives here in Krakow."

"My thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their lives, everyone injured and all those affected by this senseless violence. The United Kingdom stands in solidarity with the individuals of Poland, " he went on.

Main Market Square reopened on Sunday evening after a security cordon was lifted.

In short, krakow shooting suspect has died in hospital, police say is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.