Six killed in shooting at Krakow's historic market square

Six people were killed and at least 15 injured on Nov 7 when a gunman opened fire in Krakow's Main Market Square, the country's deadliest shooting in decades. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the incident as an act of terrorism and announced two days of mourning. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said the attacker appeared fascinated by far-right ideologies and wore military-style clothing. The suspect, a 2002-born Polish citizen, drove onto the square, fired a semi-automatic rifle similar to an AR-15, and was later detained and taken to a hospital after police shot him. Two police officers were wounded while attempting to stop the gunman.

Police identified two women and a man among the victims found at the suspect's home, suggesting they were members of his immediate family. A British national was among those killed, and five foreign nationals were among the wounded, according to police chief Marek Boron. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed shock and sadness, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz offered condolences and solidarity.

Kierwinski added that multiple weapons were found in the car and that the perpetrator held ultra-nationalist views. Tusk praised the police as "heroic" for risking their lives. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with people seeking refuge in nearby shops and restaurants. The shooting follows a period of heightened alert in Poland after a series of stabbings in October, which Tusk called a "cult of violence."