A gunman opened fire in Kraków’s popular Main Square on Saturday, killing six people and injuring at least 11, Małopolska Police said. Civilians and police officers were among the wounded.
The suspect allegedly fired at random from a moving vehicle. Videos shared on social media showed people fleeing as gunshots sounded. Police shot and wounded the suspect during an exchange of fire, and authorities said the area had been secured.
Katarzyna Cisło, a Kraków police spokesperson, told Polish broadcaster TVN24 that the suspect was wearing military-style clothing and used a military-style rifle. Police identified him only as a Polish citizen. Officers also found other weapons and ammunition in his car.
Police said reports that an officer had died, or that another attacker was being sought, were false. “The only known perpetrator of the incident is in police custody,” the force said.
At about 3 p.m. local time, a public train driver reported that a man in a moving car had fired at his vehicle, breaking a window.
Police vehicles, ambulances and a Polish Medical Air Rescue helicopter were sent to the scene in the country’s second-largest city. National Police Commander Marek Boroń was also heading to Kraków, police said.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk offered condolences to the victims’ families and praised officers who risked their lives. He urged politicians not to use the tragedy for political purposes and said authorities would establish what happened. Tusk added that police were investigating the suspect’s background and the circumstances of the attack.
President Karol Nawrocki said he was deeply concerned and thinking of the victims, injured people and their families. He said he was in contact with relevant services and expected a full account of the events. Nawrocki also said the head of Poland’s National Security Bureau was travelling to Kraków to investigate.
U.S. Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose expressed sympathy, saying the attack had shattered the city’s peace and that the United States stood with Poland. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the shooting shocking, offered condolences and said the attacker should face justice. He also wished those injured a swift recovery and expressed solidarity with Poland.
Shootings are rare in Poland, which has one of the world’s lowest rates of gun-related deaths, at about 0.2 to 0.4 per 100,000 people.
