Blood donors needed for police officer wounded in Kraków shooting

A Czech security forces union has called on Czechs living in Poland, and residents of the border region, to donate blood for police officer Jakub Kulik, who was seriously wounded in Saturday's shooting in Kraków. The blood type needed is AB Rh-positive, according to the Union of Security Forces (UBS).

The organization posted the appeal on X on Sunday and asked people to share it as widely as possible. It is aimed primarily at Czech citizens who live in Poland or can travel to donate blood on the Polish side of the border.

How to help the wounded officer

Those who wish to help should contact a Polish blood donation center and say at registration that they are donating for Kulik. Polish police have also urged suitable donors to come to centers across the country. It is best to call your chosen center in advance to check whether you are eligible to donate and how everything is organized.

Kulik previously served in Poland's 6th Airborne Brigade before joining the police. His former military unit has also shared the call for donors, according to Radio Kraków. Another officer, Artur Moranski, was taken to hospital with him: both were injured while stopping the attacker. Prime Minister Donald Tusk thanked them for saving lives.

On Sunday, a spokeswoman for Poland's Interior Ministry told TVP Info that Kulik had been brought out of a medically induced coma. His condition remains serious but stable.

Investigation extends to the gunman's family

Shortly after 3 p.m. on Saturday, a 24-year-old Polish man drove his car onto Kraków's Main Market Square and opened fire on people. Six people were killed. Police shot and detained the suspect. Initial reports spoke of 15 injured, and Polish media later cited different final figures, including the wounded attacker in some counts.

Poland's National Prosecutor's Office has opened a case, classifying the shooting as a terrorist offense. Investigators are also looking into the deaths of three people found at the suspect's family home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski: his father, mother and sister.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki declared national mourning for Sunday and Monday. Kraków has introduced its own city mourning period until November 11, and all events organized by the city have been canceled for that time.

On Saturday evening, Czech police announced preventive security measures, including stepped-up armed patrols in crowded places. According to police, there is no information pointing to a direct link between the attack and Czechia.

Around Prague, based on reporting by expats.cz