At least six people were killed and several others injured when a gunman suspected of having ties to far-right extremism opened fire on random bystanders in central Krakow, the second-largest city in Poland. The tragedy deepened further when law enforcement officers searched the suspect’s home and discovered three additional bodies inside the residence.
The assault targeted people in and around Krakow’s historic Main Market Square during a busy afternoon, causing widespread horror across the city and triggering an immediate, large-scale emergency response. Armed police officers confronted the suspect at the scene within minutes, stopping the gunfire before additional lives could be lost.
As authorities continue their investigations across multiple scenes in the city, here is a detailed breakdown of everything that is known so far about the deadly violence, the victims, the suspect, and the national and international response.
How did the attack unfold?
The violent sequence of events began shortly before 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT) in Krakow’s Main Market Square, a renowned gathering point located at the heart of the city’s historical center. According to police reports, the attacker arrived at the location in a car, driving directly into the busy square before opening fire indiscriminately at random people from inside his vehicle.
The sudden sound of gunfire prompted immediate panic throughout the square. Video footage captured at the scene shows terrified bystanders fleeing in search of safety as repeated gunshots echoed through the open public space. During the chaotic spree, bullets also struck a passing public tram. While the gunfire shattered several windows of the transit vehicle, authorities confirmed that none of the passengers aboard the tram sustained injuries.
Armed police officers raced to the scene almost immediately after the emergency was reported. Law enforcement engaged the gunman in a quick tactical confrontation, shooting and neutralizing him within three minutes of the attack’s onset. Officials stressed that the rapid intervention by emergency responders prevented what could have been a far larger massacre. Although the shooter was shot by police officers, he survived the encounter and was taken into custody under heavy security.
Distressing footage authenticated by BBC Verify captured the high-tension moment when a police officer confronted the suspect on the ground before firing his service weapon multiple times. In the immediate aftermath of the confrontation, the officer can be seen falling to the ground, having apparently sustained injuries during the arrest.
The physical impact of the shooting was evident throughout the central area. Multiple shopfronts around the square bore bullet marks and visible structural damage, while shards of broken glass lay scattered across the stone pathways. In the immediate aftermath, municipal and police officials urged local residents and tourists to avoid the central district entirely while forensic teams and counter-terrorism specialists secured the site.
In a related operational measure, police located the suspect’s vehicle parked at the intersection of Dietla and Stradomska streets. Because of concerns that the car might contain explosive materials, bomb disposal units thoroughly inspected the vehicle. Residents living in surrounding residential buildings were temporarily evacuated while officers conducted the sweep. Police later confirmed that no explosive devices were found inside the vehicle, allowing evacuated residents to eventually return.
How many people have died and been injured?
The violence resulted in multiple fatalities and serious casualties spread across the central shooting scene and the suspect’s private residence.
At the scene of the public shooting in central Krakow, six people—four women and two men—were confirmed dead. Among those killed in the square was a British national, while three of the victims have been identified as Polish citizens. Authorities are working to formally confirm the identities of the remaining two victims killed during the square attack.
In addition to the deaths in the city center, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk disclosed that law enforcement officers discovered three more bodies—two women and one man—when they carried out a search of the gunman’s residence following his arrest.
Sixteen people were rushed to local medical facilities for treatment following the incident. This group includes five foreign citizens, the wounded gunman, and two police officers who were shot while taking the suspect into custody. According to the interior ministry, the injured foreign nationals include citizens from Britain, Austria, Russia, Germany, and Portugal.
Prime Minister Tusk formally identified the two injured officers as Senior Constable Jakub Kulik and Senior Constable Artur Morański. A Polish government minister provided a grave update regarding one of the officers, explaining that he was in "very critical condition" after suffering three gunshot wounds while apprehending the attacker. The officer was immediately placed into emergency surgery.
Polish law enforcement authorities have not yet publicly released the names or ages of the civilian victims killed or injured in the assault as notifications and forensic examinations remain ongoing.
What do we know about the suspect and motive?
Police have identified the arrested suspect as a 25-year-old Polish man, though authorities have not yet officially released his name to the public.
A police spokesperson confirmed that at the time of the attack, the suspect was clad in "military-style attire" and was armed with a "military-grade weapon." Despite his tactical appearance and weaponry, official sources confirmed that the gunman was not a member of the armed forces.
A significant cache of arms was brought to the location of the attack. "Many pieces of weapons and ammunition were found in his vehicle," the police spokesperson noted during a press briefing. Subsequent reports in Polish media indicated that the 25-year-old held a valid firearms permit and suggested he may have retrieved the weapons used in the attack from his family home.
Regarding the underlying reasons for the shooting spree, a government minister stated that preliminary investigative findings suggest the attacker was motivated by "far-right ideologies." The minister further categorized the suspect as an "ultra-nationalist," though officials declined to provide additional details while investigations remain active.
Counter-terrorism officers are assisting local police in a thorough forensic examination of the suspect’s home to determine whether he acted alone or had any broader operational support.
How did witnesses describe the attack?
The shooting unfolded in one of the largest and oldest medieval squares in Europe, an area that is usually packed with locals, shoppers, and international tourists.
Jonathan Balshaw, a visitor from Ipswich, was in the square with his Polish girlfriend, Dominika, when the gunfire began. The couple was located near St Mary’s Basilica, situated at a corner of the square, when the suspect began shooting.
Describing the panic, Jonathan said: "We ran down the side of the church and through the side door and hid with several other people until the gunfire died down. A lot of shots were fired, more than 20 with it sounding like multiple different firearms – there were two distinctly different noises."
Another visitor, Caitlin Shasby from Newcastle, had arrived in Krakow just a day prior with her friend Jon for a short weekend trip. She recalled hearing repeated gunshots from inside their hotel room, though they were initially uncertain about what was taking place outside.
Caitlin explained that the situation became clear when hotel staff contacted their room directly, instructing them to "stay in our rooms until further notice" as police moved in to secure the surrounding streets.
What has the reaction been in Poland and internationally?
The attack has drawn swift responses from local officials, national leaders, and international diplomats.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk traveled directly to Krakow following the shooting to inspect the scene and receive updates from law enforcement commanders. Speaking to reporters in the city, Tusk stressed the shocking and unprecedented nature of the violence.
"Until now in Poland we haven’t had such drastic cases of terrorism… that’s what we have to call this cruel attack on people’s lives here in Krakow," the Prime Minister stated.
In response to the tragedy, Krakow Mayor Łukasz Gibała signed an official executive order declaring a citywide period of mourning. The formal period of remembrance will remain in effect until Wednesday, 11 November, with public events adjusted and flags lowered to honor the victims.
Messages of support and condemnation also poured in from international representatives. US Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose denounced the shooting, describing it as a "savage and murderous attack."
Meanwhile, the European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, expressed deep condolences while highlighting the broad impact of the tragedy, stating that the shooting in Krakow was "a tragedy that will be felt far beyond Poland."