A 25-year-old Polish man with extreme right-wing and ultranationalist views opened fire in Krakow's Main Square on Saturday, killing six people and injuring 15 others before police shot and wounded him, authorities reported. Poland's interior minister described the incident as an "act of terror."
The attacker drove to multiple locations within the busy tourist hub, firing an automatic weapon at each stop, according to police. Hours after the attack, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that three of the gunman's close relatives—two women and a man—were found dead in his home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, approximately 93 miles northeast of Krakow.
Of the six killed in the square, four were women and two were men. While three of the women were identified as Polish nationals, one victim was a citizen of the United Kingdom. Authorities were still working to identify the remaining deceased.
At least 13 people were hospitalized, many in serious condition, though it was unclear how many were victims of the shooting. Two of the injured were treated and released. Police officers were among those injured, with two sustaining serious wounds. Five non-Polish nationals were also among the injured.
Witnesses described the scene on social media, with videos showing people fleeing the square and first responders attempting to aid victims. One video captured police repeatedly firing at the wounded gunman on the ground.
The attacker, who was wearing military-style fatigues and a bulletproof vest, reportedly continued to fire at police even after being shot. He appeared to have acted alone, authorities said.
Mass shootings are rare in Poland. However, this incident follows a series of school attacks in October that left one person dead and several injured. Experts noted that the attacker's appearance and weaponry were similar to those of other far-right lone actors in Europe.