Six Killed, 15 Injured in Shooting in Poland's Kraków

At least six people, including four women and two men, were killed and 15 others injured when a gunman opened fire from a moving car near the Main Market Square in Kraków, southern Poland, on Saturday, regional authorities and police said.

The Małopolska regional government confirmed the death toll on Saturday evening. The attacker, a 24-year-old Polish citizen who acted alone, was wounded in an exchange of fire with police and taken to a hospital, authorities said. Two police officers were among the injured.

Police began receiving reports at around 3 p.m. (1400 GMT) that a man in a car was shooting indiscriminately at people in the city's main square. Kraków police said the gunman fired as he drove through the area, while a local firefighters' spokesperson told Polsat News that the shots came from a passing vehicle.

The attacker was wearing military-style clothing and a bulletproof vest and used a long firearm, Kraków police spokesperson Katarzyna Cisło said. Police also found additional weapons and ammunition in his car.

Officers returned fire during the confrontation and detained the suspect. Police said he was the only attacker, while the Małopolska regional police explicitly rejected reports circulating on social media that another perpetrator was at large. They also confirmed that the suspect was a Polish national, countering conspiracy theories about his identity.

Authorities initially called on people in the immediate area to move to safety. Police operations were carried out at several locations, while rescue teams worked in the Main Market Square. Numerous police vehicles and ambulances were sent to the area around St. Mary's Basilica, and an air ambulance helicopter landed at the scene.

Małopolska Governor Krzysztof Jan Klęczar told Polsat News that 12 of the injured were in life-threatening condition. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said one police officer had suffered a gunshot wound, while a second officer, who was hit three times, was in very serious condition and undergoing surgery.

Kierwiński praised the officers for intervening immediately and apprehending the attacker quickly. “Police officers risked their lives while intervening in Kraków. They acted immediately. Thanks to their heroic actions, the attacker was quickly apprehended,” he wrote on social media.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said police were investigating the background and all circumstances of the shooting. In a separate message on X, he offered condolences to the victims' families and praised the officers who had put their lives at risk. He also urged politicians not to use the tragedy for political purposes, pledging that the circumstances of the crime would be established.

President Karol Nawrocki said he was deeply concerned by the reports from central Kraków and that his thoughts were with those killed, the injured and their families. He remained in contact with the authorities and expected a full explanation of what had happened. The head of the National Security Bureau was also traveling to the city. “The safety of Poles is an absolute priority,” Nawrocki said.

Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said he was in contact with the interior minister, the regional governor and emergency services. He pledged a thorough investigation into the circumstances and motives behind the shooting and extended his condolences to the victims' relatives.

Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek appealed to the public to remain calm and avoid disrupting emergency crews. He said prosecutors, police and other services were securing evidence and investigating the attack, adding that the perpetrator would be held fully accountable and “severely punished.”

A witness who identified himself as Konrad told news website Interia that he had seen shots fired from the driver's side window, with smoke coming from the vehicle. He ran to a police station in the Main Market Square and found people sheltering on the floor.

U.S. Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose condemned the shooting on X, describing it as “a savage and murderous attack that’s shattered the peace of Poland.” He said the United States stood with Poland and the residents of Kraków.

The attacker wore military-style clothing and used military-type firearms, according to information provided by regional police to TVN24. More weapons were found in his car. Police said the incident had been contained and there were no other suspects.

No motive for the shooting has been announced. Tusk said all circumstances of the attack were being investigated.

Kraków, Poland's second-largest city, is located about 250 kilometers (155 miles) from Warsaw and has a population of more than 800,000. It is a popular tourist destination, with major attractions including the Main Market Square, Wawel Castle and the cathedral on Wawel Hill.