At least six people were killed and several others injured when an armed person allegedly linked to the extreme right was opening fire in downtown Krakov, the second largest city in Poland.
Police found three troops in his house during the search there. Here’s what we know so far.
How did the attack happen?
The attack began shortly before 1500 p.m. local (1400 GMT) at Krakov Market Main Square, a very frequent central point of the city, which is popular for tourists.
Police announced that a man drove into the square and then started shooting random people from his car.
Images from the site display panic scenes as people fled as gun shootings are clearly heard.
During this incident, which seems to be random, a passing tram was also shot; the glass broke, but none of the passengers were injured.
Images, THESE
Armed officers rushed to the scene and were involved in a shootout with the suspect, who was shot in three minutes from the start of the attack, preventing a further massacre, officials said.
A 25-year-old man arrested remains in hospital after undergoing surgery for a gunshot wound.
Images Concern from BBC Verifu shows the moment when a police officer faces the suspect on the ground before shooting several times with his gun.
The officer then falls to the ground, evidently after he has been injured himself.
City officials have called on residents and tourists to stay away from the area as investigations continue.
Police reported that the suspect’s vehicle, located at the crossroads of Dietla and Stradomska roads, was searched for the possible presence of explosive devices, but nothing was found. Residents of nearby buildings were evacuated during the operation.
How many people are dead and wounded?
The death of six people has been confirmed by four women and two men, including a British citizen. Three victims are Polish, while two have not yet been identified.
Sixteen people, including five foreigners, two police officers and the attacker himself, have been sent to the hospital. The Interior Ministry later announced that they were from Austria, Britain, Germany, Portugal and Russia.
Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, later announced that the injured officers are police officer Jacob Kukick and police officer Arthur Morański.
One of the police officers is in very critical condition, according to a Polish government minister, having been shot three times during the attacker’s arrest. He added that the officer is undergoing surgery.
Polish authorities have not confirmed the names and ages of other victims.
Tusk said that in the attacker’s house, during the search conducted after the event, the bodies of three persons were found, two women and one man.
What do we know about the suspect and motive?
Police have identified the attacker as a 25-year-old Polish citizen, but have not confirmed his name.
According to a police spokesman, the suspect was wearing military-style uniform and possessed a military calibration weapon. However, authorities claimed he was not a soldier.
Various weapons and ammunition were found in his vehicle, the spokesman added.
Polish media have reported that the suspect had access to firearms and that the weapons may have taken from his family’s house.
A minister has stated that initial investigations show he was inspired by extreme right-right ciideology. The minister also described it as a ultranationalist, without providing further details.
His home in Ostrowiec dealt with a town about 200km from Krakov has been controlled with the support of police against terrorism.
Source Layer: Insander