A devastating Kraków shooting shook Poland on Saturday afternoon when a gunman opened fire in the city’s busy main market square, leaving six people dead and 16 others wounded. According to reports published by The Guardian, authorities classified the horrific incident as an act of terror directed against the public in Poland’s second-largest city.
The alleged attacker, identified by officials as a 25-year-old Polish citizen, used an automatic weapon during the assault at approximately 3 pm on Saturday. Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński stated at a news conference that the suspect was fascinated by far-right ideologies and held very radical, ultra-nationalistic views.
Casualties and International Impact of the Kraków Shooting
Police confirmed that four women and two men were killed at the market square scene. Among the fatalities was a British citizen and three Polish women, while two of the initial victims remained unidentified. Furthermore, the 16 wounded individuals included foreign nationals visiting from Britain, Austria, Germany, Portugal, and Russia. Two police officers were also among the injured, with one remaining in serious condition after being shot three times during an exchange of gunfire with the gunman.
The violence began shortly before the main square attack when a tram driver reported that a moving car fired upon his vehicle near the area, shattering the cabin window, according to the Kraków municipal transport company.
Additional Victims Discovered at Suspect’s Home
Late on Saturday night, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that three additional victims—two women and one man—had been found dead inside the suspect’s home. Tusk added that these individuals were most likely members of the suspect’s family.
Government officials expressed profound shock and condemnation following the tragedy. Government spokesperson Adam Szłapka wrote on social media that the events had shaken all of Poland, noting that Prime Minister Tusk traveled to Kraków immediately. Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek vowed that authorities would ensure the perpetrator is held fully accountable and severely punished, while President Karol Nawrocki expressed deep concern and offered his condolences to the affected families.
In response to the tragedy, the Polish government declared Sunday and Monday as a period of national mourning. Recent police statistics show that legally owned firearms in Poland surpassed one million for the first time, following a record number of gun permits issued over recent years.
Source: Six dead after gunman opens fire in Kraków market square, with three more victims found at suspect’s home (source-feed timestamp 2026-11-07T21:19:01+00:00). AI-assisted report based on the cited linked article and its RSS feed; details were not independently verified.
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