The Polish prosecutor's office opens a "terrorism" investigation after the armed attack in Kraków

The Polish prosecutor’s office opened an investigation on Sunday into an act with a “terrorist character” following the armed attack carried out on Saturday in a square in central Kraków. Six people were killed, while another 15 were injured. The investigation also concerns the deaths of three other people found at the attacker’s home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski.

The attack was carried out by a young Polish man described by the authorities as being “fascinated” by far-right ideas. Prosecutors are trying to reconstruct his movements and gather evidence and testimony to establish the motive and the exact circumstances of the acts.

Poland entered the first day of national mourning on Sunday, which will continue on Monday. Flags were flown at half-mast, while candles were lit and religious services were held in several localities. The square in Kraków’s old town was closed, while shops, cafés, and restaurants in the area remained largely closed.

The authorities maintained the security cordon as investigators examined the scene of the attack. Prime Minister Donald Tusk spoke of a “cult of violence” fueled on social media. The best-known signal from the tower of St. Mary’s Church in the square was not heard after the attack, for the first time since 1939.

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