Poland began two days of national mourning on Sunday, after a 24-year-old man with far-right views drove into a busy central square in Krakow and opened fire, killing six people and wounding 15 others before police shot and wounded him.
The two police officers who stopped the attacker, in actions authorities hailed as heroic, remain in hospital. One is in critical condition, prompting officials to launch an appeal for blood donations. Videos posted on social media by witnesses show people running away from the square to take cover on small streets nearby, as well as first responders trying to resuscitate victims. In one video, a police officer is seen repeatedly shooting the attacker, who is lying on the street, only to later slowly collapse to the ground himself. Mass shootings are uncommon in Poland. However, in mid-October three attacks at schools in the central province of Mazovia took place within four days, leaving one person dead and many wounded, including children. The young attackers used knives or other sharp objects.
Authorities also found three dead bodies at the man’s family home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, a city about 150 kilometers (93 miles) northeast of Krakow.
The family members likely died from gunshot wounds, the police said. The police said on Sunday they were the bodies of the attacker’s sister, mother and father.
The square remained partially closed on Sunday morning as authorities continued their investigation. By evening, mourners had left candles in memory of the victims.
