A gunman dressed in military-style clothing opened fire in Poland’s historic city of Krakow, killing six people and injuring 16 others in an attack authorities have described as an act of terrorism.
The shooting occurred shortly before 3pm on Saturday, November 7, at the city’s Main Market Square, a popular tourist destination frequented by residents and international visitors.
According to BBC reports, the 25-year-old Polish national drove into the crowded pedestrian square before opening fire on passers-by from inside his vehicle. A passing public tram was also struck by gunfire, shattering a window in the driver’s cabin, although no passengers were injured.
Police officers rushed to the scene and exchanged gunfire with the attacker, eventually shooting and apprehending him. The suspect was wounded during the confrontation and taken to hospital for surgery, where he remains under police guard.
Authorities said officers responded within minutes of receiving reports of the shooting, with their intervention helping to prevent further casualties.
Investigations later led police to the suspect’s home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, approximately 200 kilometres from Krakow, where they discovered three additional bodies, two women and one man.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the three victims were believed to be members of the suspect’s immediate family, although investigators had yet to establish the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
The suspect was reportedly wearing military-style tactical clothing and was armed with a rifle. Police also recovered additional weapons and ammunition from his vehicle.
Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said preliminary findings indicated that the suspect was fascinated by far-right ideologies and held radical ultranationalist views. However, authorities said investigations into his background and possible motive were ongoing.
The six people killed in the Krakow shooting comprised four women and two men. Among them was a British citizen, while three were Polish nationals and two had yet to be identified.
A further 16 people were reported injured, including foreign nationals from Austria, Germany, Portugal and Russia, as well as two police officers who were wounded during the confrontation.
Tusk identified the injured officers as Jakub Kulik and Artur Morański, with one reported to be in critical condition after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.
The attack sparked widespread condemnation, with international leaders expressing solidarity with Poland and sending condolences to the victims’ families.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and British officials were among those who expressed shock over the shooting, as Polish authorities continued investigations into the incident.
Krakow Mayor Łukasz Gibała announced an official period of mourning in the city until Wednesday, November 11, as residents and authorities mourned the victims.
