Poland opens terrorism probe after Krakow mass shooting kills six

Poland has opened a terrorism investigation after a mass shooting in Krakow left six people dead and many others injured. The attack took place on Saturday in the historic centre of the city, one of the country's most visited urban areas. Authorities said the suspect is a 24-year-old Polish national who is now in critical condition after a shootout with police.

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The National Prosecutor's Office said it launched the inquiry on Sunday into what it described as the killing of six people and the attempted murder of many others, including police officers. Officials said the suspect used a semi-automatic rifle during the attack. Prime Minister Donald Tusk had already described the incident as an act of terrorism before the formal probe was announced.

Police said a British national was among those killed. Among the 15 wounded were nationals from Austria, Britain, Germany, Portugal and Russia, according to authorities cited by the PAP news agency. Two police officers were injured while chasing the suspect, and one was reported to be in serious but stable condition.

Police also appealed for blood donors for the officer, identified as Jakub Kulik, who confronted the attacker. The case has drawn attention because of the terrorism designation and the reported ideological background of the suspect. Authorities said he was fascinated by far-right ideologies, a detail that may become central to the investigation.

The fact that the attack involved foreign victims also gives the case wider international significance, particularly for countries whose citizens were among the dead and injured. Officials said the suspect opened fire at random in the heart of Krakow's historic centre before fleeing and later engaging police in a shootout. He was described as masked and dressed in military-style clothing, including a bullet-proof vest.

Three more bodies were later found at his home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, around 150 kilometres northeast of Krakow, and police said they were his parents and sister. What remains unclear is the full motive, the sequence of events before the shooting, and whether the terrorism probe will lead to additional charges. The suspect's condition may also affect how quickly investigators can question him.

Authorities have not yet said whether the attack was planned alone or whether anyone else may have been involved.

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