Man accused of killing 6 in far-right shooting rampage dies in hospital, Polish police say

The man who drove into Kraków's Main Market Square on Saturday and opened fire died at 4:30 a.m. Monday, Polish police confirmed, bringing closure to a day of national mourning after he killed six people and wounded 15 in what officials are treating as a terrorist attack. He had been in critical condition since police shot him during the midday rampage, undergoing multiple surgeries before succumbing to his injuries.

The attack unfolded in one of Europe's most beloved medieval squares, drawing horror from both locals and tourists as gunfire echoed through centuries-old architecture. Video footage showed panicked crowds fleeing as the shooter fired indiscriminately from his vehicle, his military-style clothing and bulletproof vest marking him as someone who had planned this moment with grim precision. The two police officers who confronted him — actions officials praised as heroic — remain hospitalized but conscious after spending Sunday in comas.

Authorities recovered nearly a dozen firearms from the scene, including two AR-15 semi-automatic rifles found in his car or on his person, bringing the total weapons count to 11. His father also held gun permits, and the family home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski yielded seven additional weapons. Investigators believe the attacker may have killed his sister, mother and father at their home before traveling to Kraków, though they have not confirmed whether the family members died while sleeping.

The government's initial characterization of the attack as driven by far-right ideology quickly unraveled into political discord. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński had declared the shooter was "fascinated by far-right ideologies" and held "very radical" ultra-nationalistic views, but nationalist opposition figures questioned the basis for these claims, with Law & Justice leader Jaroslaw Kaczyński calling them a "blatant lie." By Monday, officials were openly backtracking, with government spokesperson Adam Szlapka advising restraint until "the matter is fully clarified" while Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek insisted the investigation would continue to determine whether the attacker acted alone or drew inspiration from any group.

Among the evidence being scrutinized are symbols found on the attacker's clothing and a yellow Gadsden flag—featuring a snake and the words "Don't tread on me"—displayed in his room. While the flag has historical roots in the American Revolution and has been adopted by various movements, Polish prosecutors noted it is not widely recognized as an extremist symbol, adding another layer of ambiguity to the motive question. Electronic devices have been secured for analysis as investigators piece together what drove a young man with access to legal firearms to commit such violence.

The Kraków attack marks Poland's deadliest mass shooting since communism fell in 1989, occurring just days after three separate school attacks in Mazovia that left one person dead and many wounded. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has linked those incidents to online "glorification of violence," suggesting a broader pattern of nihilistic violence that transcends specific political ideologies. Whether this latest attack fits that pattern—or represents something distinct—remains to be determined as prosecutors sift through evidence and the nation mourns its losses.