Multiple Fatalities Recorded After Gunman Attacks Kraków Market Square

A shooting incident in a busy Kraków market square resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, prompting a swift response from emergency services and national leaders. The event unfolded at approximately 3pm on Saturday when a gunman opened fire using an automatic weapon in the main square of Poland's second-largest city.

According to Polish authorities, six individuals died at the scene, comprising four women and two men. Among those killed was a British citizen, three Polish women, and two individuals who remained unidentified at the time of reporting. An additional 16 people sustained injuries, including foreign nationals from Britain, Austria, Germany, Portugal, and Russia. The wounded also included two police officers, one of whom was shot three times during an exchange of fire with the alleged perpetrator and remained in serious condition.

Late on Saturday night, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that three additional bodies—two women and one man, believed to be family members—were discovered inside the suspect's home. Officials identified the suspect as a 25-year-old Polish citizen. The interior minister, Marcin Kierwiński, stated during a news conference that the individual was fascinated with far-right ideologies and held very radical and ultra-nationalistic views.

Prior to the market square shooting, the Kraków municipal transport company reported that a tram driver's cabin window was shattered when a man in a moving car fired at the vehicle nearby at about 3pm. Government officials expressed shock and concern over the violence. Prime Minister Tusk traveled to Kraków following the incident, while government spokesperson Adam Szłapka stated on social media that the event had shaken the country.

Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz described the shooting as an act of terror directed at the people of Kraków, a major destination that attracts millions of visitors annually. Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek stated that authorities would ensure the perpetrator is held fully accountable and severely punished. President Karol Nawrocki also released a statement conveying deep concern over the tragic events and offering thoughts to the victims and their families.