Get you up to speed: Everything we know about ‘far-right military cadet’ who shot dead six in Krakow | News World
A 25-year-old man with alleged far-right beliefs shot and killed six people, including one British citizen, while wounding 16 others in Krakow, Poland. The suspect, identified as Michal O, was shot by police during the incident and is currently in hospital in serious condition.
The suspect, identified as Michal O, utilised firearms sourced from his family home, where seven firearms were discovered following the shooting incident. Polish authorities are continuing their investigation into the suspect’s background and motives, with a focus on his fascination with far-right ideologies and ultra-nationalist views.
Poland’s Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński confirmed that the shooter, identified as Michal O, was “fascinated by far-right ideologies” and held “ultra-nationalist views”. The local shooting club, KS ŚWIT Starachowice, expressed its shock at the incident, stating that the suspect “has never been trained in dynamic, tactical, or combat shooting” at their facility.
What remains unclear — The motive for the shootings has not been determined.
Suspect identified in Krakow shooting that left six dead and 16 wounded
The suspected terrorist who shot dead his family before killing six people in Krakow, Poland, is a 25-year-old with ‘far-right’ beliefs.
The alleged shooter reportedly drove 80 miles from the city where he lived and fired shots at a tram, pedestrians and two horses from a black Subaru.
He killed four women and two men – including one British citizen – and wounded 16 people in the three-minute-long attack at 3pm Saturday.
The suspect was shot at close range by a police officer before he was taken to hospital in serious condition.
What do we know about the Krakow shooting suspect?
The suspect fired on people from a black Subaru
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Polish media identified the suspect as Michal O, a Polish citizen living in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, about 80 miles north east of Krakow.
Officers found the bodies of the suspect’s father, 53, mother, 51 and sister, 21, at their family home.
Their injuries were initially assessed as gunshot wounds, the force added, and seven firearms were found in the home.
Locals described the alleged gunman to Fakt, a Polish tabloid newspaper, as an ‘aloof’ man who ‘always’ wore black.
‘He’s a little strange. He never spoke. If he did speak – which was rare – he’d just say hello,’ one neighbour said.
‘Otherwise, he’d keep his hood pulled over his head.’
The gunman exchanged fire with police before he was taken down (Picture: EPA)
The alleged shooter likely got his firearms from his own home
The suspect had a clean criminal record and had a firearms permit. Poland has tight gun control laws, and permit applicants must justify owning a gun, pass psychological tests and take a practical exam.
His father, who also owned 11 firearms, took his son to a sports club to go to a local shooting range every Sunday.
The club, KS ŚWIT Starachowice, said in a Facebook post that its board is ‘deeply shocked by the tragic events’.
The suspect, it added, ‘has never been trained in dynamic, tactical, or combat shooting at our club’.
The motive for the shootings remains unclear.
Interior minister Marcin Kierwinski said the attacker was ‘fascinated by far-right ideologies’ and held ‘ultra-nationalist views’.
During the attack, he wore a bulletproof vest and carried an AR-15-style rifle, a civilian version of a US military semi-automatic rifle
Governor Krzysztof Jan Klęcza said that the suspect is ‘not associated with the Polish Army’.
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