Six Dead After Gunman Opens Fire in Kraków's Main Market Square

A 25-year-old gunman in a vehicle killed six people and injured 16 others during a random shooting at the historic Main Market Square in Kraków, Poland, on Saturday afternoon.

The attack began shortly before 3:00 p.m. local time when a Polish citizen driving a car opened fire with an automatic, military-style rifle. According to the BBC and Fox News, the shooter targeted people at random in the crowded tourist destination, even striking a passing tram and shattering its windows. Police engaged the suspect in a gunfight within three minutes, shooting and wounding him before taking him into custody.

The fatalities in the square included four women and two men. According to the BBC and The Guardian, the dead include a British national and three Polish women, while two victims remain unidentified. Among the 16 people taken to hospital were the attacker and two police officers, Senior Constable Jakub Kulik and Senior Constable Artur Morański. One officer was reported to be in very critical condition after being shot three times.

Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński stated the suspect was influenced by far-right ideology and held radical, ultra-nationalistic views. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz characterized the shooting as an act of terror. While most outlets reported at least six deaths from the square, the New York Times and CBS News initially cited at least five fatalities.

Following the attack, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that three additional bodies—two women and one man—were discovered at the suspect's home. Tusk noted these victims were likely family members of the gunman. Authorities also reported finding additional weapons and ammunition inside the suspect's vehicle, which was searched for explosives at a nearby intersection.

Background

The shooting occurred in Poland's second-largest city, which attracts approximately 15 million visitors annually. The Guardian noted that the number of legally owned firearms in Poland recently surpassed one million, with a record number of permits issued in 2025.