Tomasz Waszczuk, spokesman for the Małopolska Branch of the National Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime and Corruption, announced the start of an investigation into the recent attack in Kraków. Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek emphasised that this division handles cases related to terrorist crimes.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, involved a 24-year-old man who drove his vehicle into Krakow’s Main Market Square and opened fire, resulting in the tragic loss of six lives and injuries to 16 others, including two police officers. Following an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement, the suspect sustained injuries and was subsequently taken into custody.
In a statement to PAP, Tomasz Waszczuk confirmed that both injured police officers have regained consciousness. “Two pieces of good news amid this terrible tragedy. Jakub Kulik and Artur Morański—incredibly brave police officers, heroes who were injured during an intervention in Kraków—have been brought out of comas. We’re rooting for you! Stay strong and get well soon! Poland needs you!” Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński posted on X.
“The dead and injured in yesterday’s attack in Kraków include citizens of five countries: the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Russia and Portugal. The Governor of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship has informed representatives of the consulates of the countries whose citizens were affected by the attack. To protect their privacy, we are not providing information about the victims’ ages, genders or health conditions,” Karolina Gałecka, Press Spokesperson, Director press spokesperson and director of the Department of Social Communication at MSWiA, said in an X post.
Tomasz Waszczuk reported that a prosecutor from the Małopolska Branch has commenced an investigation into the attack, which is classified under terrorist offences. This investigation focuses on two distinct acts: the murder of six people with a firearm and the attempted murder of others, including police officers carrying out essential duties related to public safety.
The investigation’s primary objectives are to elucidate the circumstances surrounding these tragic events, ascertain the full extent of the perpetrator’s actions, and secure pertinent evidence. Prosecutor General Żurek highlighted the necessity for the state to respond decisively and efficiently to such acts of violence, utilising all available legal instruments. The safety and security of citizens remain the utmost priority.
Furthermore, the investigation includes a second act concerning the murder of three people in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, an industrial city situated 150 kilometres east of Kraków, where the perpetrator resided. The bodies of the attacker’s parents and sister were discovered within the residence.
Prosecutor General Żurek noted that both acts carry the potential penalty of life imprisonment. According to Tomasz Waszczuk, the perpetrator of the Saturday attack has not yet been formally arrested due to his medical condition, which required hospital transport; however, he remains under constant surveillance. Preliminary findings indicate that the suspect possessed a firearms permit, although further details cannot be disclosed at this time.
Who is Michał O., the actor of the carnage
According to various reports and interviews, 25-year-old Michał O. was a shooting sports enthusiast with notable artistic talent, who was also engaged in religious activities. As he matured, he increasingly gravitated towards right-wing extremist ideologies and was described by neighbours as introverted and withdrawn. Authorities have suggested that Michał O. held radical views, with Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński identifying him as an “ultranationalist.”
Additional information from Wirtualna Polska indicates that Michał O. had two registered firearms and was a member of the Świt Starachowice shooting club, where he practised shooting alongside his father. The perpetrator was wearing camouflage clothing and a bulletproof vest and had multiple weapons in the trunk of his vehicle.
A former classmate, referenced by Radio Eska, reported in an interview with Onet that Michał O. had a history of creating disturbing drawings during class. Some of these artworks depicted scenarios of violence, including individuals being hanged or shot in a school context. Notably, one drawing represented Michał O. entering a school building armed.
The bodies discovered in his apartment were identified as those of his father, aged 53; his mother, aged 52; and his sister, who was 20 years old. Sub-Inspector Andrzej Fijołek, spokesman for the General Police Command, stated, “The victims have bullet wounds, so it is likely they died from gunshot wounds. All three bodies have already been removed and transported from the residence.” In light of this tragic event, Poland has declared two days of national mourning, and the city of Krakow will observe mourning until Wednesday, local media outlets reported.
According to documents shared on social media, Janusz O., the perpetrator’s father, was the local president of the far-right, pro-Russian party Normalny Kraj in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski.
