Six people were killed and 16 others injured after a gunman opened fire in Krakow, Poland, turning the city’s historic Main Market Square into a scene of panic and confusion. The victims included a British national, while two police officers were among those injured during the confrontation with the suspect.
The shooting happened shortly before 3 p.m. local time on Saturday in central Krakow, Poland’s second-largest city and one of Europe’s major tourist destinations. Video footage from the scene showed people running for shelter as gunshots echoed through the area.
The 25-year-old suspect, a Polish citizen, was arrested after exchanging gunfire with police officers. Authorities later searched his home and discovered three additional bodies, identified by Prime Minister Donald Tusk as the suspect’s parents and sister.
Polish officials have described the shooting as a terrorist offence, while the country’s interior minister said preliminary findings indicated that the suspect had been influenced by far-right ideology. Investigators are examining his background, access to weapons and possible connections between the shooting and the deaths discovered at his residence.
Krakow Shooting Video Shows People Running for Shelter
Footage from Krakow’s Main Market Square captured the moments of fear as people reacted to the sound of gunfire.
Video authenticated by BBC Verify reportedly shows around a dozen people running into two nearby buildings as the shooting unfolded. A black car with its front window open then passes through the area, followed by a police vehicle.
Other recordings captured the sound of gunshots in the historic square, where pedestrians, tourists and local residents had been going about their day.
The footage shows people rushing away from the area and seeking shelter inside nearby buildings. Witnesses described hearing numerous shots, with the sudden noise causing confusion among those visiting the popular tourist destination.
The attack also damaged a passing tram. Several windows were shattered by bullets, although authorities said no passengers aboard the tram were injured.
Shopfronts around the square were also left with broken windows, while fragments of glass were scattered across parts of the pavement.
City officials urged residents and visitors to avoid the area as police secured the scene and emergency services attended to the injured.
Gunman Arrested After Exchange of Fire With Police
Police said the suspect was a 25-year-old Polish national who was wearing military-style clothing and carrying a firearm described by authorities as a military weapon.
He was not a serving member of the military.
According to the account provided by authorities, the suspect drove into the busy square before opening fire from inside his vehicle.
Armed police officers arrived shortly after the shooting began and confronted him. An exchange of gunfire followed, and officers shot the suspect approximately three minutes after the attack started.
The suspect sustained a gunshot wound and was taken to hospital for surgery under police supervision.
Footage authenticated by BBC Verify reportedly shows an officer confronting the suspect after he had fallen to the ground. The officer fires several shots before also collapsing, apparently after being injured during the confrontation.
Police subsequently secured the area while emergency responders treated victims and transported injured people to hospitals.
Investigators also examined the suspect’s vehicle, which was found near the intersection of Dietla and Stradomska streets. Officers checked for possible explosive devices as a precaution, but no explosives were discovered.
Six People Killed and 16 Injured in Krakow Attack
Polish authorities confirmed that six people died in the shooting. The victims were four women and two men.
A British citizen was among those killed. Three of the victims were identified as Polish nationals, while the identities of two others had not yet been formally established in the information provided by authorities.
Sixteen people were transported to hospitals for treatment. The injured included five foreign nationals, two police officers and the suspected attacker.
The foreign nationals were reported to be citizens of Austria, Britain, Germany, Portugal and Russia.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk identified the two injured police officers as Senior Constable Jakub Kulik and Senior Constable Artur Morański.
One of the officers was reported to be in extremely critical condition after being shot three times while attempting to arrest the suspect. A government minister said the officer was undergoing surgery and receiving intensive medical care.
Police later said two injured people had been discharged from hospital, while others were in stable condition. The condition of every injured person was not immediately available.
Three More Bodies Found at Suspect’s Home
The investigation took another significant turn after police searched the suspect’s residence and discovered three additional bodies.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that the deceased individuals were two women and one man. They were later identified as the suspect’s parents and sister.
The discovery raised further questions about the events leading up to the shooting and whether the suspect was connected to other deaths before travelling to Krakow.
Authorities have not provided a complete public account of the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Investigators are examining the evidence collected at the property as part of the wider inquiry.
The suspect’s home was reportedly located in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, approximately 200 kilometres from Krakow.
Counter-terrorism officers assisted local investigators during searches of the property, collecting potential evidence and examining the suspect’s background.
Suspect Reportedly Influenced by Far-Right Ideology
Poland’s interior minister said preliminary findings suggested that the 25-year-old suspect had been influenced by far-right ideology.
The minister also described him as an ultra-nationalist. However, officials had not publicly provided further details establishing his connections to particular extremist organisations or explaining the precise motivation behind the shooting.
Police said the suspect used military-style weapons during the attack. Investigators also reportedly discovered additional weapons and ammunition inside the vehicle he had driven to the square.
Polish media reports suggested that the suspect held a firearms permit and may have obtained some weapons from his family residence.
Authorities are examining his weapons ownership, communications, personal history and movements before the attack.
Although officials have indicated that extremist ideology may have influenced the suspect, investigators are still working to establish the full motive and whether anyone else was involved.
The Krakow branch of Poland’s National Prosecutor’s Office described the shooting as a terrorist offence.
British Tourists Describe Hearing Gunshots in Krakow
The attack shocked tourists who had travelled to Krakow to visit its historic attractions.
Jonathan Balshaw, from Ipswich in the United Kingdom, was visiting the Main Market Square with his Polish girlfriend, Dominika, when the gunfire began.
The couple were near St Mary’s Basilica when they heard the shots. They ran towards the side of the church and entered through a side door, where they hid with other people until the danger had passed.
Jonathan said he heard more than 20 shots. He also described hearing two distinctly different sounds, leading him to believe that more than one firearm may have been involved.
Another British visitor, Caitlin Shasby, from Newcastle, had arrived in Krakow the previous day with her friend Jon for a long weekend.
The pair were staying at a hotel near the affected area when they heard gunshots from their room. Initially, they were unsure what was happening.
Hotel staff later contacted them and instructed them to remain inside until further notice.
Their accounts illustrated the confusion experienced by visitors and residents as police worked to secure the surrounding streets.
Why Krakow’s Main Market Square Became the Scene of the Attack
Krakow’s Main Market Square is one of Europe’s largest medieval public squares and a major attraction for international visitors.
The area is normally busy with tourists photographing historic buildings, visiting restaurants and exploring nearby cultural sites. St Mary’s Basilica is among the well-known landmarks surrounding the square.
The shooting disrupted the area during a busy afternoon, forcing people to seek shelter as emergency services responded.
The attack also raised concerns among international visitors because Krakow attracts tourists from across Europe and other parts of the world.
Police temporarily restricted access to parts of the city centre while investigators examined the scene, collected evidence and assessed damage to nearby buildings and public transport.
Donald Tusk and International Leaders React to the Shooting
Prime Minister Donald Tusk travelled to Krakow after the shooting and condemned the violence.
He described the incident as an act of terrorism and confirmed the discovery of three additional bodies at the suspect’s home.
Polish authorities also began a period of mourning following the deaths.
Krakow Mayor Łukasz Gibała signed an order declaring mourning in the city until Wednesday, November 11, in honour of those who lost their lives.
International officials also expressed condolences to Poland and the families affected.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was shocked and saddened by the shooting, extending his thoughts to the victims, their families and those injured.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also expressed the United Kingdom’s condolences following the attack.
United States Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose condemned the shooting, while European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the tragedy would be felt beyond Poland.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also expressed shock and sent condolences to the victims’ families on behalf of the Ukrainian people.
Investigation Continues as Poland Mourns the Victims
Polish investigators are continuing to examine the suspect’s background, possible extremist influences, access to firearms and the circumstances surrounding the three deaths discovered at his home.
Authorities are also working to establish the complete identities of the victims and determine whether the suspect had any connections to other individuals who may have been involved.
The injuries sustained by two police officers during the confrontation have also drawn attention to the risks faced by emergency responders during the attack.
For Krakow, the shooting has transformed a popular historic destination into the site of a major criminal investigation and a period of public mourning.
As families grieve the six confirmed victims, authorities face the task of establishing exactly what happened, why the suspect opened fire and whether the additional deaths at his residence were connected to the attack.
