Gunman kills five in Krakow Main Market Square shooting, police say

The shooting

A shooting in the Main Market Square of Krakow, in southern Poland, has left five people dead and around a dozen injured, according to Małopolska Police. The police said that at around 15:00 local time a man who had driven onto the square began firing at random people from his car. The figure of five dead replaced an earlier count of two, and Polish outlet Polityka reported that at least ten people were injured, including two police officers.

The Małopolska Police said the perpetrator was shot by police and was being taken to hospital, and a later police statement said he had been detained. Police also said that a rescue helicopter had landed near St Mary's Basilica and that the area around the square had been cordoned off. The Krakow city administration said officers were conducting an operation on Dietla Street and asked residents to avoid the area while investigators worked.

Response from officials

Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X that he was being kept informed by the Interior Minister and that police were examining the background and all circumstances of the attack. Polish media reported that a fire service spokesman described the area around the Main Market Square as a hot zone, meaning access remained restricted.

The United States ambassador to Poland, Tom Rose, also responded on social media, mourning the victims in the square.

“Ameryka stoi u boku Polski w tej mrocznej godzinie, tak jak Polska stoi u boku swoich ukochanych mieszkańców Krakowa.”

Open questions

As of the latest reports, the motive of the attacker and the details of his arrest had not been made public. It was also unclear whether there were further suspects, and the police investigation was continuing.