Police in Krakow say a gunman opened fire in the city’s Main Square on Saturday afternoon, killing six people and wounding 16.
The Story
Six people were killed and 16 others were wounded after a gunman opened fire Saturday afternoon in Krakow’s Main Square, a major tourist area, Polish authorities said.
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the attack was an “act of terror,” adding that the suspect was fascinated with far-right ideologies and held “very radical views.” Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz also called the shooting an “act of terror” on the people of Krakow.
Authorities said the suspect was a Polish citizen. Police initially reported he was 24, then corrected his age to 25. Kierwiński said four women and two men were killed.
Kierwiński said two police officers were wounded, one seriously. Police said the gunman was shot and wounded during a gunfight with officers a short distance from the initial violence, and was taken to hospital for surgery.
Krakow police spokesperson Katarzyna Cisło said the perpetrator was wearing military-style fatigues and a bulletproof vest and used a military-type long gun. She said police found other weapons and ammunition in the man’s car and that he continued firing at police even after being shot himself.
Cisło said the attacker made what she described as a “wild ride” around the Main Square area, explaining why people were hurt at several locations. She also said the gunman acted alone and that the public was safe.
In a video posted on X, Krakow mayor Łukasz Gibała said the city would be in official mourning until Wednesday and vowed that Krakow will remain open to visitors. Witness videos showed people running for cover in nearby streets and first responders trying to resuscitate victims.
Kierwiński and police said the firearm used and the guns found in the suspect’s vehicle were not immediately confirmed as legal. Authorities said there are about 411,000 gun permits in Poland, and said interest in gun ownership has been rising.
Poland’s main tourist city says the scale of mass shootings is uncommon in the country, though authorities noted that in mid-October there were three attacks at schools in the central province of Mazovia within four days, leaving one person dead and many wounded, including children.
Separately, the Krakow municipal transport company said a tram driver reported about 3 p.m. that his vehicle was shot at from a moving car while passing near the main square; the window to the driver’s cabin was shattered.
Animal rights group OTOZ Animals said the attacker also shot two horses in the area. The group said both animals were alive, with one grazed by a bullet and the other hit in the leg.
Following the attack, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised police officers for their response, and Polish President Karol Nawrocki said his thoughts were with the victims, the wounded and their families.
← More stories