Six killed and more than a dozen injured after gunman opens fire in historic centre of Kraków

A gunman opened fire in Kraków’s Main Square, a major public space in Poland’s second-largest city. He wore military-style fatigues and a bulletproof vest and used a military-type long gun. The attack spread across several locations because he drove wildly around the square while firing. Six people died, and 16 were injured.

Police confronted the attacker during the incident. He continued firing at officers even after being shot, according to police spokesperson Katarzyna Cisło. Videos showed a policeman repeatedly shooting the attacker as he lay on the street. One officer suffered a gunshot wound, while another was shot three times and needed surgery.

The police response ended the immediate threat and led to the suspect’s apprehension. Police also found more weapons and ammunition in his car. Malopolska police said there was no second perpetrator, correcting reports that another attacker might be sought.

The shooting caused six deaths and 16 injuries. That total includes two police officers who were hurt while confronting the attacker. The figures show that the incident was not confined to one precise location or one brief burst of violence. The attacker’s movement around the Main Square spread the danger across several places.

The injuries were often severe. Thirteen of the 16 injured people were taken to hospital with serious injuries. Five of those injured were foreign citizens, an important detail in a city that receives millions of visitors each year. Police footage and witness videos showed first responders trying to resuscitate victims.

The two injured officers also faced serious consequences. One had a gunshot wound. The other suffered three gunshot wounds and was undergoing surgery. The article does not provide further outcomes for the victims or officers, so their later conditions are not stated.

An act of terror generally means serious violence or threats intended to intimidate a population or attack public life. The article does not give a legal finding or explain whether authorities had formally established a terrorist motive. It reports that Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz described the shooting as an “act of terror” on the people of Krakow.

The minister’s wording reflects the attack’s public character and scale. A gunman opened fire in the city’s central Main Square, where residents, visitors, and first responders were present. Six people were killed and 16 injured. The attacker also moved around the square and continued firing at police after being shot.

The term therefore communicates the government’s assessment of the event’s impact, rather than proving a broader organization or motive. The article identifies the suspect’s far-right fascination and ultra-nationalistic views, but it does not report a confirmed group, manifesto, or formal terrorism charge. Those details remain unstated.

The suspect was a 25-year-old Polish citizen, identified by police as coming from Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski. Police spokesperson Andrzej Fijołek said he had not previously been on police records. The article gives no name for him and does not describe a prior criminal history.

Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the suspect was fascinated with far-right ideologies and held “very radical” and “ultra-nationalistic” views. These statements provide ideological background, but the article does not establish exactly how those beliefs shaped the attack. It also does not report a manifesto, membership in an extremist group, or a confirmed motive.

Police said the suspect wore military-style fatigues and a bulletproof vest and used a military-type long gun. They found other weapons and ammunition in his car. Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz also rejected reports that the man was, or had ever been, a Polish Army soldier.

Kraków’s Main Square matters because it is the centre of a major Polish city and a destination for large numbers of visitors. Kraków is Poland’s second-largest city and receives 15 million visitors annually. Most of those visitors pass through the Main Square, so an attack there can place residents, tourists, businesses, and emergency responders in the same crowded environment.

The shooting also showed why a large open public space can be difficult to secure. The attacker went on a “wild ride” around the square, according to police spokesperson Katarzyna Cisło. People were wounded at several locations, while witnesses ran into nearby small streets for cover. First responders had to treat victims as police pursued the gunman.

The incident highlights the continuing public-safety challenge without proving that the square was specifically selected for its visitor numbers. The article does not state the suspect’s exact target or motive. It does show that an attack in a busy landmark can spread danger quickly and affect people from Poland and abroad.

After the shooting, victims and wounded people were treated by first responders and hospitals. Thirteen of the 16 injured were brought to hospital with serious injuries, including five foreign citizens. Witness videos showed emergency responders trying to resuscitate victims. The article does not give the final condition of most injured people, so later medical outcomes cannot be stated.

The police intervention also carried a heavy cost. One officer suffered a gunshot wound. A second officer suffered three gunshot wounds and was undergoing surgery, with the interior minister describing his condition as very serious. Police apprehended the attacker, and officials confirmed that no second perpetrator was being sought.

Public life was marked by mourning and official response. President Karol Nawrocki announced national mourning for 8 and 9 November. Nawrocki and Prime Minister Donald Tusk were reported to be traveling to Kraków. European officials also expressed condolences to victims, families, and first responders.

Firearm licensing, weapon access, and police response can all influence the danger of a public shooting. Licensing systems are designed to control who may legally possess firearms, while police intervention can limit how long an attacker remains able to fire. The article does not establish whether any weapon was legally obtained or whether licensing rules failed.

Here, police said the suspect used a military-type long gun and that his car contained many other weapons and ammunition. The car was registered to his 52-year-old father, who local media reported holds several gun licences. That connection does not prove the father supplied weapons or that the suspect used licensed firearms. The article provides no such finding.

Police action appears to have ended the immediate threat, but not without serious risk. Officers confronted the attacker while he kept firing, and two were wounded. More broadly, the case shows that access to multiple weapons can complicate a fast-moving response, while rapid police intervention can prevent further harm. The article gives no policy conclusions.