Gunman kills at least six in Kraków's Main Market Square, two officers shoot him

The attack in the city centre

On 7 November 2026, around 15:00, a 24-year-old man drove a black Subaru from Sławkowska Street onto the Main Market Square and fired a long weapon at people nearby. At least six people were killed and 16 wounded, according to figures reported that evening. Panic spread through the centre as tourists and residents ran into cafés and building entrances. The gunman then shot at a tram on Wszystkich Świętych Square, damaging the driver's cabin window. About a kilometre further on, his car collided with another vehicle near the junction of Dietla and Stradomska streets.

Two officers stopped the gunman

Senior constables Jakub Kulik and Artur Morański, from the first police patrol to respond, exchanged fire with the gunman and shot and subdued him. Both officers were wounded, and Kulik was shot three times and has a seriously damaged lung. He is a former paratrooper with the 18th airborne battalion of the 6th Airborne Brigade and joined the police after leaving the army. His former unit posted an appeal on Facebook for AB Rh+ blood donations for him. Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek praised the pair in a statement.

“They stood eye to eye with a terrorist.”

Political reaction

Prime Minister Donald Tusk named the two officers on X and wrote that they had probably saved many lives. He also reassured the public that the services were working, and he urged politicians to avoid exploiting the attack. His appeal read:

“Do not play with this tragedy. We will explain all the circumstances.”

President Karol Nawrocki wrote on X that his thoughts were with the victims and their families. He said he was in constant contact with the services and expected the circumstances to be explained. He sent Bartosz Grodecki, head of the National Security Bureau, to the scene, and Grodecki took part in a meeting of ministers with the prime minister.

Family deaths and donations

After 22:00 on 7 November, Tusk said three bodies had been found at the attacker's family home: two women and a man. Services had earlier identified the attacker as Michał O., a resident of Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, and said he had first killed his parents and sister before travelling to Kraków. He used his own weapon, which he held under a permit, and reportedly had about a dozen firearms.

Killed (at least)6

Wounded16

Killed (at least)

6 people

Wounded

16 people

Data from the article text

Krzysztof Stanowski, founder of Kanał Zero, opened a fundraiser on zrzutka.pl for the two officers and their families. One report put the total above 138,000 zloty, and a later update said more than 430,000 zloty had been raised.