Six people were killed and 16 injured when a gunman opened fire in Kraków's Main Market Square on Saturday afternoon, an attack that Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described as an act of "terrorism." The suspect, a 24-year-old Polish citizen, was wounded in an exchange with police and taken to hospital.
The shooting began around 3 p.m. when a masked man in military-style clothing drove a car onto the cobblestone square, a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, and started firing. Witnesses described scenes of panic as people fled into nearby buildings and shops for cover. Police sealed off the square and adjoining streets, and residents of surrounding buildings were evacuated while officers checked the suspect's vehicle for explosives.
The suspect and his background
The man, a resident of Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski in southeastern Poland, had no previous convictions and was not known to police. He held a valid firearms licence, and investigators believe he used at least one weapon covered by that licence. Police also recovered a semi-automatic rifle similar in design to an AR-15, fitted with an optical sight, along with a pistol and a large quantity of ammunition from his car.
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the suspect appeared to hold "very radical views" and was "fascinated by far-right ideologies." Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz rejected reports that the man had served in the Polish armed forces, stating that he "has never had anything to do with the military."
The victims
Among the six people killed in the square were four women and two men. One victim has been identified as a British citizen. A Portuguese national and a Russian national are reported to be among the injured. Two police officers were also wounded, one seriously.
Later on Saturday, authorities announced the discovery of three more bodies at the suspect's home. Police confirmed they were the bodies of his 53-year-old father, 52-year-old mother, and 20-year-old sister, all reportedly suffering from gunshot wounds. Tusk said there was "much to suggest that they are members of the (suspect's) immediate family."
The two officers who detained the suspect were named by Tusk as senior constable Jakub Kulik and senior constable Artur Morański. He called them "true heroes," adding that "their condition is serious, but they are receiving excellent care. The whole of Poland is keeping its fingers crossed for you." Kierwiński also praised the officers' actions, writing on X: "The police officers acted heroically today. They fulfilled their duty to the public and their country in an exemplary manner. One of them is fighting for his life. Another has been injured. I appeal to everyone to show respect for their sacrifice."
National mourning
In response to the attack, a two-day period of national mourning began at midnight on Sunday. Flags are flying at half-mast across the country, websites have adopted subdued colours and black ribbons, and radio and television stations have altered their schedules. Entertainment events have been cancelled as Poland grapples with one of the deadliest acts of violence in its recent history.
The attack has reignited debates about gun control and the spread of extremist ideologies in Poland, a country that has seen a rise in far-right rhetoric in recent years. European leaders have expressed solidarity with Poland, and the European Union has offered support in the investigation. As the city of Kraków begins to recover, questions remain about how a man with no criminal record could carry out such a devastating assault.
