Six Killed, 15 Injured in Shooting at Poland’s Historic Krakow Square

KRAKOW (Terror Monitor) — At least six people were killed and 15 others injured after a gunman opened fire on civilians in the historic Main Market Square in the southern Polish city of Krakow on Saturday, November 7, Polish authorities said.

The victims included four women and two men, according to police. Among those killed was a British national, while the identities of two other victims had not yet been confirmed in the latest official reports.

The incident occurred at approximately 3 p.m. local time when a man drove a car into Krakow’s historic central square and began firing randomly at people from inside the vehicle.

According to police, the attacker moved through several locations around the square, opening fire on pedestrians and causing casualties at multiple points.

Police initially reported five fatalities, but the death toll was subsequently raised to six after the regional authorities confirmed another death.

The Associated Press (AP), Reuters and Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that 15 people were injured in the attack, including two police officers who were wounded during an exchange of gunfire with the suspect. One of the officers was reported to be in serious condition.

Suspect shot and arrested

Police said officers pursued the suspect and exchanged gunfire with him a short distance from the initial shooting location.

The suspect was shot and wounded before being arrested and transported to a hospital, where he was taken for surgery.

Krakow police identified him as a Polish citizen. Initial reports put his age at 24, while some subsequent reports described him as 25.

Katarzyna Cisło, a spokesperson for Krakow police, told Polish broadcaster TVN24 that the suspect was wearing military-style clothing and a bulletproof vest and was armed with a military-type long gun.

Police also discovered additional weapon components and ammunition inside his vehicle.

Authorities said the suspect continued firing at police officers even after being wounded. Investigators were examining the weapons and other evidence recovered from the vehicle.

Far-right ideology under investigation

Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said preliminary information suggested that the suspect was fascinated by far-right ideology.

However, authorities had not yet established a definitive motive for the attack.

Police said the suspect appeared to have acted alone and that there was no confirmed indication of additional attackers or an ongoing threat to the public.

The investigation was continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the suspect's background, access to firearms and possible ideological motivations.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk briefed on attack

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he was receiving regular updates from Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński about the situation in Krakow.

Tusk said police were investigating the background and all circumstances of the attack. He subsequently travelled from Warsaw to Krakow, according to government officials.

The Interior Ministry was coordinating with local authorities and emergency services as investigators continued examining the incident.

International news agencies report casualties

Reuters reported that six people were killed and 15 injured, including two police officers, in the shooting. The news agency also reported that the suspect was a Polish citizen who opened fire randomly from a vehicle.

The Associated Press confirmed that the victims included four women and two men and reported that the suspect was wounded during an exchange of gunfire with police before being taken to hospital.

Agence France-Presse also reported six fatalities and at least 15 wounded, citing Polish authorities. AFP separately reported that five foreign nationals were among those hospitalised following the attack.

Krakow, Poland's second-largest city, is a major tourist destination known for its historic architecture and medieval Main Market Square.

The shooting has raised serious security concerns in the country, where mass shootings of this scale are rare.