The key facts

  • On the evening of November 7, 24-year-old Michał O. shot at passers-by in central Kraków: six dead, 16 injured, including two police officers and foreign nationals.
  • The suspect was found to have 'certain symbolism', but the investigation is keeping its content secret; the motives have not been established.
  • The bodies of the shooter's sister and parents were found at his home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski; he and his father were members of a shooting club.

What happened in Kraków

On the evening of November 7, 24-year-old Pole Michał O. opened fire on passers-by in Kraków's main square. According to the latest reports, six people were killed and 16 more were injured, including two police officers and foreign nationals. The suspect was wounded during his arrest and is in hospital — it is not yet possible to question him. This is reported by Gazeta.Ru citing Poland's Prosecutor General and Minister of Justice, Waldemar Żurek.

Motive unknown, but symbolism found

Żurek said that the shooter hadcertain symbols and various symbolism found on him, but did not specify what exactly: this information constitutes a state secret of the investigation. According to him, it is too early to speak about the attacker's motives — they have not been established.

Search of the shooter's home

During a search of the suspect's home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, the bodies of his sister and parents were found. It later became known that Michał O. and his father were members of a shooting club — this may explain access to weapons, although the investigation has not yet named any direct link to the motives for the attack.

Award for the police officers

The Mayor of Kraków said that the police officers who stopped the shooter will be awarded the city's most prestigious decoration . The investigation continues; the key questions — the nature of the symbolism found and the attacker's motives — remain open, and the investigation has not yet provided answers to them.