Czechs urged to donate blood for police officer wounded in Krakow shooting

A Czech security personnel union has urged Czechs living in Poland and near the Polish border to donate blood for a police officer seriously wounded during Saturday’s deadly shooting in Krakow.

The Union of Security Forces, known as UBS, shared an appeal Sunday for Jakub Kulik, who was injured while intervening against the attacker. The appeal specifically requests AB Rh-positive blood.

Prospective donors are asked to contact a blood donation center in Poland and state when registering that they are donating for Kulik.

UBS published the appeal on X and asked the public to share it, directing its message particularly toward Czechs already living in Poland or the border region.

Polish police have also urged eligible donors to attend blood collection centers across Poland and identify Kulik as the intended recipient. Anyone considering donating should contact the center beforehand to confirm eligibility and arrangements.

Kulik previously served in Poland’s 6th Airborne Brigade before joining the police. His former military unit has also shared the request for blood, according to Radio Kraków.

Both Kulik and fellow officer Artur Morański were hospitalized after confronting the gunman. Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised them for saving lives.

In a subsequent update Sunday, an Interior Ministry spokeswoman told TVP Info that Kulik had been brought out of a medically induced coma. His condition remained serious but stable.

Six people were killed when a 24-year-old Polish man drove into Krakow’s Main Market Square shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday and opened fire at people in the area.

Police shot and detained the suspect. The initial reported injury toll was 15; subsequent Polish reporting has used different totals, including figures that count the wounded attacker.

Poland’s National Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation treating the shooting as a terrorist offense. Investigators are also examining 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. Krakow separately announced municipal mourning through Nov. 11, with city-organized events canceled during that period.

Czech police announced preventive security measures Saturday evening, including more armed patrols in crowded public places. They said they had no information suggesting a direct connection between the attack and Czechia.