World

25‑Year‑Old Military Cadet Identified as Krakow Shooter

By Vivek Dubey

A 25‑year‑old man, described by neighbours as a quiet and polite individual, has been identified as the suspect in a deadly shooting in Krakow’s historic Main Market Square. The gunman, who was wearing military‑style fatigues and a bulletproof vest, drove a black Subaru into the square around 3 p.m. local time and fired an AR‑15‑style assault rifle at pedestrians, a tram and two horses. Six people were killed, including a British national, and 15 others were injured. Police shot and wounded the suspect, who was taken to hospital. Polish authorities have called the incident an act of terror. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said preliminary findings point to the suspect’s fascination with far‑right ideologies and ultranationalistic views. Neighbours, however, said they had not noticed anything suspicious about him. Prime Minister Donald Tusk reported that the bodies of three people—two women and a man—were found at the suspect’s family home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, about 150 km north‑east of Krakow; the victims are believed to be close family members, though the circumstances of their deaths remain unclear. Footage from the shooting shows a police officer approaching the suspect on the road and firing several shots at close range. The officer, who had already been hit three times, collapsed after being seriously wounded. Two police officers were seriously injured and remain in critical condition. The suspect also sustained injuries and underwent surgery. The attack has shocked Poland, where mass shootings are relatively uncommon. Krakow Mayor Łukasz Gibala announced official mourning in the city until Wednesday and assured residents and visitors that the city would remain open.