At least two people have been confirmed dead and ten others injured after a gunman opened fire from a moving car in the historic Main Market Square of Krakow, Poland, at around 3pm local time.
Attack and Casualties
Police confirmed that a gunman drove a car into the bustling square and began firing at random pedestrians from the vehicle. Two police officers are among those wounded, according to fire department spokesperson Hubert Ciepły.
A suspect has been arrested by Małopolska police, while unconfirmed local reports claimed an individual had been shot during the police operation.
Witness Accounts and Emergency Response
Panic swept through the crowds as gunshots rang out, sending locals and tourists diving into nearby restaurants and shops to shield themselves from the rampage, according to Polish outlet Gazeta Krakowska. Witnesses said the attacker was behind the wheel of a Subaru car, with shots reportedly fired near Sławkowska Street before further casualties were reported along nearby Stradomska Street.
Bullet holes and shattered glass were seen on a damaged shopfront near the iconic St. Mary's Basilica, as reported by tabloid Fakt. A massive emergency response descended on the city centre, with a fleet of ambulances, armed officers, fire crews and an air ambulance helicopter racing to the scene.
Official Statements and Investigation
Fire officials warned the public to stay well clear, describing the scene as a "hot zone" an hour after the attack. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in a statement on social media: "The police are investigating the background and all the circumstances of the attack."
Eyewitness Tomasz Sakiewicz claimed the attack may have been terror-related, noting that an anti-government protest had been underway on nearby Matejki Street at the time gunfire erupted. The city centre remains in lockdown as detectives probe the circumstances behind the attack.
