A gunman opened fire in Kraków’s crowded Main Market Square on Saturday, killing six people and wounding at least 15 before police shot and arrested him, Polish authorities said.
The attack unfolded shortly after 3 p.m. local time on Nov. 7 in the historic center of Poland’s second-largest city. Officials said the shooter fired at people from a moving car and continued through several locations before officers stopped him.
Four women and two men were killed
Police identified the six people killed as four women and two men. Kraków’s official city service and Reuters reported 15 wounded, while a later Associated Press update placed the number at 16.
Two police officers were among those injured, with one described as seriously wounded. The suspect was also shot during an exchange with officers and taken to a hospital for surgery while remaining in custody.
The differing injury totals reflect a rapidly developing investigation and hospital assessments. Authorities had not released a complete public list of the victims or detailed medical conditions.
Police say the gunman acted alone
Authorities described the suspect as a Polish man in his mid-20s who wore military-style clothing and a protective vest. Police said they believe he was the only attacker and that there was no continuing danger to the public.
Officers recovered additional firearms and a large quantity of ammunition from his vehicle, according to Reuters, Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press.
Investigators were examining whether the weapons were legally owned and reconstructing the shooter’s path through the city center.
Tram struck during the attack
Kraków’s public transportation operator said a tram was hit by gunfire near All Saints Square. A window in the driver’s compartment was shattered, but the driver and passengers were not injured.
The suspect was ultimately stopped near the intersection of Dietla and Stradomska streets, according to the city of Kraków’s official report. Emergency crews and police cordoned off parts of the center while investigators processed multiple scenes.
Officials examine extremist views but motive remains under investigation
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the suspect appeared fascinated with far-right ideology and held radical views. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz described the shooting as an act of terror.
Those statements do not by themselves establish a final motive or criminal classification. Police had not publicly detailed what evidence linked the suspect’s political beliefs to his decision to attack people in the square.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he was being kept informed by the interior minister and that investigators were examining the background and every circumstance of the attack.
A rare mass shooting in Poland
Mass shootings are uncommon in Poland, making the violence in one of Europe’s most recognizable public squares especially shocking. Kraków’s Main Square is normally filled with residents, tourists, restaurants, carriages and cultural activity.
The city declared official mourning through Wednesday. Kraków’s mayor said the city would remain open to visitors while security and investigative work continued.
Authorities in Warsaw and other cities also increased security precautions following the attack. Police asked people in Kraków to stay away from active investigation areas and follow directions from emergency personnel.
What is confirmed
- Six people—four women and two men—were killed.
- At least 15 people were wounded; AP later reported 16.
- Two police officers were injured, one seriously.
- The suspect was shot, hospitalized and remains in custody.
- Police believe he acted alone and say the public is safe.
- Additional weapons and ammunition were found in his vehicle.
- Investigators have not announced a final motive.
The casualty count and investigative findings may change as hospitals update authorities and police examine the suspect’s weapons, communications and movements. For now, officials are treating Kraków’s historic center as a secured crime scene while the city begins mourning the six people killed.
