Gunman kills five and injures more than a dozen in Krakow market square

A gunman opened fire Saturday afternoon in a busy market square in Krakow, Poland, killing five people and injuring more than a dozen, police said.

The gunman, a Polish citizen, aimed at random people as he drove into the Main Square, a major tourist destination in the center of the city, Krakow police said. Police officers are among the wounded.

The perpetrator was shot and wounded during a gunfight with officers a short distance away from the initial violence, police said.

Police response and scene

Katarzyna Cisło, a spokesperson for the Krakow police, told TVN24 that the perpetrator was wearing military-style fatigues and he used a military-type long gun in the attack. Police found many other weapons, as well as ammunition, in his car.

Cisło added that the gunman acted alone and that the public is safe. Mass shootings are uncommon in Poland.

Images from the scene showed police officers and ambulances covering the area, and a Polish Medical Air Rescue helicopter also landed in the square.

A tram driver reported around 3 p.m. that his vehicle was shot at from a man in a moving car while passing nearby the main square, the Krakow municipal transport company said. The window to the tram driver’s cabin was shattered.

Official reactions

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, in a post on X, said police are investigating the attack. And Polish President Karol Nawrocki said his thoughts were with the victims, the wounded and their families.

“We are just learning details of the horrific mass shooting in Krakow, a savage and murderous attack that’s shattered the peace of Poland,” Tom Rose, the U.S. ambassador to Poland, wrote on X. “America stands with Poland at this dark hour as Poland stands with her beloved citizens of Krakow.”

Why it matters

• Krakow is Poland’s second-largest city and roughly 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the capital, Warsaw.
• Around 15 million tourists visit Krakow annually, the majority passing through the Main Square.
• The perpetrator was shot and wounded during a confrontation with police.

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Sources

• washingtonexaminer.com: Gunman opens fire in Polish city of Krakow, killing 5 people
• wpxi.com: Gunman opens fire from car in Krakow Main Square, killing six - WPXI
• thestar.com: Gunman opens fire in Krakow, killing 5 and injuring 12
• goshennews.com: Gunman opens fire in Polish city of Krakow, killing 5 people and injuring at least 12 | National News | goshennews.com
• economictimes.indiatimes.com: Gunman opens fire in Polish city of Krakow, killing 5 people and injuring at least 12 - The Economic Times
• cnbc.com: Gunman opens fire in Krakow, Poland, killing 5 people and injuring 12

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.