Kraków gunman dies in hospital as Poland opens terrorism inquiry

A 24-year-old man suspected of killing six people in Kraków's main market square has died in hospital, Reuters reported on Monday, as prosecutors investigate the attack as an act of terrorism.

Police found the bodies of the man's sister, mother and father at the family home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, roughly 200km from Kraków, and prosecutors said on Sunday it was "highly likely" one person carried out both sets of killings.

Officers shot and arrested the suspect minutes after the gunfire began on Saturday, and he had undergone multiple surgeries while in a critical condition before he died.

Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the suspect was fascinated with far-right ideologies, remarks that drew criticism from conservative lawmakers.

Kierwiński told broadcaster TVN24 on Sunday that the motive remained under investigation. "We are not passing judgement," he said, before adding "Nobody is walking anything back."

Police Deputy Inspector Katarzyna Cisło described the attacker as wearing military-style clothing and using "military weapons", in comments to TVN24. Officers also found "many pieces of weapons and ammunition" in his vehicle, she said.

Experts are examining the emblems on his clothing, an interior ministry spokesperson said on Monday. "These patches were associated with various motifs that are currently being analyzed by specialists," Karolina Galecka told radio station TOK FM.

Eleven firearms were recovered from the two sites, a prosecutor's office spokesperson said, a figure that matches the number of weapons permits issued to the suspect and his father.

Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz rejected reports that the suspect was a soldier, saying he "never had anything to do with the military".

The suspect belonged to a shooting club and appeared to be a highly skilled marksman, said club spokesperson Adam Chyb of Swit Starachowice. "He never came to the club in any kind of military uniform," Chyb said, adding that the man "did not exhibit any negative behavior, which would have been noticed".

Police began receiving reports of gunfire at about 3pm local time on Saturday, when Kraków police said the suspect drove into the square and fired randomly, initially from his car, killing four women and two men.

The six dead were four Polish nationals, a British man and an Austrian woman, authorities said.

Sixteen others were wounded, including two police officers and five foreign nationals from Austria, Germany, Portugal, Russia and Britain, according to the interior ministry.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised the two officers for saving "many lives". They underwent surgery, remain in hospital and were conscious by Sunday afternoon, authorities said.

Off-duty surgeon Michal Pedziwiatr, who treated victims including a police officer at the scene, said he had just finished lunch with his family when he heard "what sounded like gunshots".

The suspect also shot two horses pulling carriages in the city centre, according to animal rights group OTOZ Animals, which said both survived, were treated by a vet and were taken from the area.

Regional governor Krzysztof Klęczar condemned the "immense evil" of Saturday's events. "We have just gone through a difficult night here in Kraków," he told reporters.

President Karol Nawrocki said "my thoughts are with the victims, those injured and their families", while the Czech Republic and Ukraine sent messages of condolence.

Resident Witold Slowikowshi said "I think that this is a new era in my country."

One leading Polish daily, Rzeczpospolita, called the attack a harbinger that "brutally ends an era in which Poland was considered a safe island".

Poland, like other European Union countries, imposes strict rules on acquiring guns, and very few people may own military-style weapons or carry firearms in public.

About 411,000 people hold gun permits in a country of more than 37 million, according to the Associated Press.

Kraków's Main Market Square draws millions of visitors each year, according to state broadcaster TVP, and on Sunday mourners laid candles and flowers near bullet holes in the square.

Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said on X that internet safety officials had observed increased disinformation and that the Centre for Combating Disinformation had moved to "emergency" mode.

"Verified and confirmed information comes exclusively from the authorities and institutions responsible for ensuring safety and establishing the circumstances of this terrible tragedy," he said.

Police have not publicly named the suspect and prosecutors say their investigations are continuing, while Mayor Łukasz Gibała has declared mourning in Kraków until 11 November.