Krakow shooting, Digi Mart USA News (Krakow, Poland): Poland has experienced its worst firearms incident in decades. A gunman killed six people and wounded at least 15 others in the historic Old Town of Krakow, according to reports from German publisher Der Spiegel.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the attack as an act of “terrorism.” President Karol Nawrocki announced a nationwide day of mourning for Sunday and Monday.
Police said the shooter opened fire shortly before 3 p.m. from a moving car on the Great Square, the main market square of Krakow.
Police said he fired “indiscriminately at passersby.” He used a semi-automatic long gun similar to an American-style AR-15 rifle. Police said many more weapons and ammunition were found in his car.
Media reports said the shooter’s car collided with another vehicle at an intersection while fleeing the scene. He then reportedly got out and fired at emergency responders, who returned fire and hit him.
He was overpowered and taken to a hospital with injuries.
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the “lightning-fast reaction” of police prevented a larger massacre. He said officers fired at the attacker within three minutes of the first alarm.
Later that evening, three additional bodies were discovered at the suspect’s home, about two hours’ drive from Krakow. Tusk said they were two women and a man.
Radio station RMF FM, citing police, reported on Sunday morning that they were the suspect’s parents and sister.
Six people died in the market square attack: four women and two men, according to police. Kierwiński said one of the victims was a foreign national.
Police Chief Marek Boroń said the victims included one Briton and three Poles, with two still to be identified.
At least 15 others were injured. According to Krzysztof Klęczar, head of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, twelve of them are in critical or life-threatening condition.
Among the injured are two police officers and five foreign nationals, including one person from Germany. A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry said others injured were from Austria, Portugal, Russia and Britain.
Officials identified the suspect as a 24-year-old Pole from the Holy Cross Voivodeship in southeastern Poland. Investigators believe he acted alone and denied reports of a manhunt for a possible accomplice.
Kierwiński said the man reportedly held “very radical views” and there are indications he was drawn to far-right ideologies, though this still needs to be examined further.
After the exchange of gunfire with police, the attacker was treated at a Krakow hospital with life-threatening injuries and underwent several operations.
The motive for the attack and the suspect’s background remain under investigation. Tusk said police, security services and prosecutors are working to provide information about the shooter’s motives as quickly as possible.
Tusk called the attack a “horrific assassination attempt on the lives of the people here in Krakow” and urged politicians across the spectrum not to turn the tragedy into a “tool for political games.” President Nawrocki said on X that he was “extremely concerned” and was in contact with the relevant authorities, adding that security was the top priority.
Several heads of state and government offered condolences. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on X that he was “deeply affected” and that Germany stands “alongside Poland as a friend and partner in these difficult times.” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed solidarity with Poland.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the events a “tragedy” and said Poland “is not alone” in this moment of grief, adding that the effects would be felt well beyond Poland’s borders.
