In brief

• A 39-year-old man in Kraków fired a gas-type weapon at a police patrol on Thursday and was detained after a chase.
• He faces charges of active assault on police, attempting to coerce officers, and drug possession, and was remanded for three months.
• As a repeat offender with a prior murder conviction, he will be prosecuted under the recidivism rules.

Shots at officers near Bieżanowska Street

On Thursday shortly after 1 p.m., police received a report about a man walking along the Wielicka and Bieżanowska streets in Kraków with an object resembling a firearm (Strzelał do policjantów w Krakowie. Nowy ruch prokuratury i sądu – wydarzenia.interia.pl) (Kraków: Zarzuty za strzały w kierunku policji. Nowe informacje ws. 39-latka – RMF24). A patrol located the man and he fired three times with a gas-type weapon, which does not require a permit to own. The officers responded with two warning shots and gave chase (Oddał strzały w kierunku policjantów w Krakowie. 39-latek niedawno wyszedł z więzienia – Onet). The man threw the weapon away, was overpowered and detained. Police also found drugs on him. No one was injured (Policyjna interwencja w Krakowie. Mężczyzna strzelał w kierunku funkcjonariuszy – Bankier.pl).

Charges and custody

On Friday, Kraków District Prosecutor's Office spokesman prosecutor Tomasz Waszczuk said the suspect faces charges of active assault on police officers, attempting to coerce them into a particular action, and possession of narcotics. The prosecution asked the court to order temporary detention, and the court granted a three-month arrest. The suspect is 39 years old and a resident of Kraków.

Prior conviction

The prosecutor said the man had previously been convicted, including for murder, and had served a lengthy sentence. Because of this record, he will answer for the current offences as a repeat offender. These details have not been confirmed in the prosecutor's official statements.

What comes next

The case is being handled by prosecutors in Kraków. Further charges or changes to the indictment depend on the investigation, which is ongoing.