Prime minister Donald Tusk called two police officers heroes after they were wounded while detaining the 24-year-old man who killed six people in central Krakow on Saturday, 7 November. More than 16,800 people gave over 950,000 zloty, about €220,000, within hours of the attack to pay for the treatment of one of the officers, Jakub Kulik.
The shooting began at about 3pm on the Main Market Square. Five people died at the scene, and a sixth died in hospital. Besides the two officers, 14 other people were wounded, including the gunman himself. Poland declared national mourning for Sunday and Monday, 8 and 9 November.
What happened before: Six killed in shooting in central Krakow, Poland declares two days of mourning
Senior constables Jakub Kulik and Artur Morański chased the man, stopped his car and were wounded in a shootout.
Footage of the operation spread widely online. In a video filmed by a witness, the wounded Kulik kneels next to the disarmed gunman and watches his movements until he loses strength and falls.
A spokesman for Krakow police confirmed that the wounded officer fought to the end to stop a new attack on civilians.
"They probably saved many lives, without thinking about the risk of losing their own," Tusk wrote on X. He said the two men are in serious condition but are getting very good care, and all of Poland is keeping its fingers crossed for them.
Interior and administration minister Marcin Kierwiński said on Saturday that one officer has a single gunshot wound and, according to doctors, his life is not in danger. "The condition of the other officer is very, very serious. Three gunshot wounds, the doctors are working," the minister added. Both remain under medical supervision.
Bartosz Grodecki, head of the National Security Bureau, wrote on X that the officers showed courage when they stopped the attacker. He said the state must give them and their families all the help they need. Grodecki gave the most weight to the actions of people at the scene, who also rushed to help. He added that the crisis response team met and was briefed on what is known so far and on what the services did.
Three people were found dead in the apartment block in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski where the gunman lived: his parents and his sister. The attacker is also in serious condition.
Investigators are looking into reports that the man held far-right nationalist views.
Kulik served in the 6th Airborne Brigade "Brig. Gen. Stanisław Sosabowski" and joined the police after the army, the brigade said. It also called on people to give blood. The officer is also a member of the Leszczyny volunteer fire brigade in Bielsko-Biała, the brigade wrote.
Journalist Krzysztof Stanowski organised the fundraiser, and it drew a wide public response.
On the night to Sunday, Żurek wrote on X that Kulik stood up to the armed attacker without hesitation and is now fighting for his life in hospital. According to the minister, one lung is not working, and the officer needs every drop of blood. Żurek called on everyone who can to give blood of group AB Rh+ at centres across Poland and to say clearly that it is for Jakub Kulik.