A British national is among six people killed in a shooting in Krakow, Poland, according to the country's police chief. The attack took place on Saturday afternoon when a gunman drove into the Main Market Square, in Poland's second-largest city, and opened fire.
Police exchanged fire with the suspect three minutes after receiving reports of the attack, which came in shortly after 3.30pm local time, Polish police chief Marek Boron said. Speaking at a press conference, Mr Boron confirmed that one of the six people killed was British, while three victims were Polish nationals. The remaining two have yet to be identified.
Suspect's background and attack details
Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said the suspect appeared to have been fascinated by far-right ideologies and held "very radical" and "ultra-nationalistic" views. The 25-year-old Polish national allegedly opened fire with an automatic weapon in the busy Main Market Square, killing four women and two men and leaving at least 15 others injured.
Poland's Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz described the shooting as an "act of terror" against the people of Krakow. The city is one of Poland's most popular tourist destinations, welcoming around 15 million visitors every year, with most passing through the historic square.
Police response and casualties
Krakow police said the gunman had driven around the area firing at random people from his vehicle. Two police officers were also wounded, with one left in a serious condition. Katarzyna Cislo, a spokesperson for Krakow police, told TVN24 that the attacker was wearing military-style fatigues and a bulletproof vest and had used a military-type long gun.
She described the incident as a "wild ride" around the Main Square, explaining why people were wounded at several different locations. Witness footage shared on social media showed people fleeing the square and taking cover in nearby streets as emergency services rushed to the scene. First responders were also seen attempting to resuscitate victims.
In one video, a police officer appeared to repeatedly shoot the attacker as he lay on the street, before the officer himself slowly collapsed to the ground. The suspect was eventually shot and wounded during an exchange of gunfire with police a short distance from where the attack began. He was taken to hospital for surgery and remains in a serious condition.
Aftermath and official response
Police said the attacker continued firing at officers even after being shot. Investigators believe he acted alone. Officers discovered numerous other weapons and ammunition inside his car as searches continued.
The attack also left two horses injured after they were shot in the square. Animal rights group OTOZ Animals said both animals survived, with one grazed by a bullet and the other suffering an injury to its leg. Horse-drawn carriages are a popular tourist attraction in Krakow's Main Square.
A tram driver also reported that his vehicle had been shot at by a man in a moving car shortly before the main attack. The window of the driver's cabin was shattered. Krakow mayor Lukasz Gibala announced the city would remain in official mourning until Wednesday, but vowed it would continue to welcome visitors.
"The square will belong to us again," he said in a video posted on X. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised the police officers who responded to the shooting, while President Karol Nawrocki said his thoughts were with the victims, injured people and their families.
US ambassador to Poland Tom Rose described the shooting as a "savage and murderous attack" which had shattered the peace of the country. Mass shootings are uncommon in Poland. However, three attacks at schools in the central province of Mazovia took place within four days in mid-October, leaving one person dead and several others injured, including children.
It remains unclear whether the firearm used in Saturday's attack, or the other weapons found in the suspect's car, were legally owned. Around 411,000 people hold gun permits in Poland, which has a population of approximately 37 million.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski announced increased security measures in the capital, including road barriers along major streets in the old town.
