A British man was among six people shot dead in a Polish city “terror” attack by a rampaging gunman who is also suspected of killing three members of his own family.
Another Briton was among 16 people injured, including the perpetrator, after he opened fire in Krakow’s Main Square on Saturday afternoon.
Four women and two men were killed, with local officials saying three of the women and one man were Polish.
The other man was British, while the nationality of the fourth woman remains unknown.
Five foreign nationals from the UK, Portugal, Russia, Germany and Austria were among the wounded.
Authorities also found three dead bodies at the 24-year-old suspected gunman’s family home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, a city about 93 miles north-east of Krakow.
Police said on Sunday they were the bodies of his sister, mother and father, and they are believed to have been shot.
Footage on social media shows an armed police officer approaching the gunman, who appears to be wearing tactical gear and lying on the ground with a rifle beside him.
Sirens can be heard as the officer appears to fire six shots towards him before dropping to his knees.
The suspected gunman, a 24-year-old Polish national, was believed to have been inspired by “far-right ideologies” and remains in hospital after being shot by police.
Local police have launched a blood appeal for officer Jakub Kulik, who is fighting for his life in hospital.
The force said the senior constable had confronted the armed attacker and suffered serious injuries.
The shooting happened at around 3.30pm on Saturday when the gunman armed with an automatic weapon opened fire in the Old Town area of Poland’s second-largest city.
He drove to multiple spots in the square, opening fire at each, authorities said.
Jonathan Balshaw, from Ipswich, was outside Mary’s Basilica in the square with his girlfriend when the attack started.
“We ran down the side of the church and through the side door and hid with several other people until the gunfire died down,” he told the BBC.
“A lot of shots were fired, more than 20 with it sounding like multiple different firearms – there were two distinctly different noises.”
Neil Thaxton, of Knottingley, West Yorkshire, wrote on Facebook: “We had just walked through the main square and heard the gunshots.
“We thought it was fireworks then people started running.
“We went into a gift shop and the staff took us in the back of the shop and locked the doors and turned the lights off.
“It was quite scary for 5-10 minutes, fortunately we’re alright, our thoughts are with the ones who’ve lost their lives and their loved ones.”
In a press conference on Saturday night, Polish police commander-in-chief Marek Boron said: “There are 16 people injured including two police officers and the perpetrator himself – 11 of those are Polish citizens, five citizens of foreign countries.
“There are six fatalities, four women and two men – three Polish persons, one citizen of Great Britain and two persons who are not yet identified.”
“We are undertaking activities at the place where the perpetrator lived, so I think we will know more what those investigations bring.”
As it emerged that a British citizen was among the dead, Prime Minister Andy Burnham paid tribute to the victims of the attack.
Mr Burnham said: “I’m shocked and saddened by the appalling shooting in Krakow today.
“My thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their lives, everyone injured and all those affected by this senseless violence.
“The United Kingdom stands in solidarity with the people of Poland.”
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting told the Press Association: “The events in Krakow are profoundly shocking.
“My deepest condolences go to those who are waking up this morning within an enormous hole in their lives as a result of this appalling incident.
“We’re not able to save much more at this stage. And I don’t believe the name of the British victim has been released.
“But suffice to say, we stand in solidarity with Poland this morning. And we stand with those who are grieving in the face of such an unspeakable tragedy.”
The Polish interior minister Marcin Kierwinski said the attacker held “very radical views” and “was fascinated by far-right ideologies”.
Polish defence minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz called Saturday’s fatal shooting an “act of terror” on the people of Krakow.
The FCDO is advising British nationals in Krakow to “follow the advice of local authorities and monitor local media”.
In a statement, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said: “The UK Government deeply mourns the British national and other victims who have died after the appalling attack in Krakow.
“All of my deepest condolences go to the families of the victims.
“The UK stands resolutely in solidarity with the people of Poland.”
Krakow mayor Lukasz Gibala said in a post on X the city would observe a period of mourning until November 11.
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