Kraków shooting leaves six dead and 15 injured in central market square

At least six people have been killed and 15 others wounded after an armed assailant launched an attack in the central market square of Kraków, Poland.

The violence erupted around 3:00 p.m. when a motorist entered the historic plaza, a major tourist hub in Poland’s second-largest city. Local police reported on social media that the individual began firing indiscriminately at bystanders from inside his vehicle. The fatalities comprised four women and two men.

Prior to the square attack, a public transit driver reported that a motorist opened fire on a moving tram near the plaza, shattering the window of the driver's cabin, according to Kraków's municipal transit agency.

Authorities stated that the suspect, identified as a solitary Polish national wearing military-style attire, wielded a long military-type firearm during the assault. Law enforcement officers pursued the vehicle and engaged in a shootout nearby, where the suspect was struck and wounded.

Two police officers sustained injuries during the confrontation. One of the officers suffered severe wounds after being struck three times by gunfire.

The tragedy prompted an immediate response from national leaders. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that the interior minister was providing him with regular updates as investigators work to determine the circumstances and motive. Government spokesperson Adam Szlapka later confirmed that Tusk was traveling directly to the scene, noting that the event had deeply affected the nation.

President Karol Nawrocki expressed deep concern over the tragic events and offered condolences to the victims and their families. Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek pledged that the judicial system would hold the individual responsible and enforce severe punishment.

Poland has seen an increase in firearm registrations recently, with reports indicating that the total count of legally registered firearms in the country climbed above 1 million earlier this year, bolstered by a record 50,700 permits issued in 2025.