Polish Prosecutors Open Terrorism Inquiry After Krakow Square Shooting

Polish prosecutors have opened a terrorism investigation into a shooting in the main market square of Krakow that killed six people and injured 17, according to The Guardian. Four women and two men died. The suspect, a 24-year-old Polish national, was wounded in an exchange of fire with police and is in hospital under heavy guard.

The attack took place on Saturday, 7 November, when the suspect drove into the square at about 3pm. Reuters and the Wall Street Journal reported that he fired at random from a moving car into the crowded square. He wore military-style fatigues and a bulletproof vest. He later underwent surgery.

Police also found three people dead at the family home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, about 100 miles north-east of Krakow. They were the suspect's father, aged 53, his mother, aged 52, and his sister, aged 21. Police said the three had probably died of gunshot wounds.

Among the wounded were five foreign nationals, from Britain, Austria, Germany, Portugal and Russia. One of the people killed was a British citizen. Two police officers were also injured, and one of them is in serious condition.

Marcin Kierwinski, Poland's interior minister, whose portfolio covers the police and internal security, said the suspect was fascinated with far-right ideologies and held very radical and ultra-nationalistic views. Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the shooting an "act of terrorism."

Poland has begun two days of national mourning for the victims.