A gunman opened fire in the historic center of Krakow, Poland’s second-largest city, on Saturday, leaving at least five people dead and around a dozen others injured, according to police.
The suspect, a Polish citizen, drove a car onto Krakow’s Main Market Square before opening fire randomly at people in the area, police said. Officers shot the suspect during the incident and took him into custody.
A Krakow police spokesman said five people had been killed and around a dozen others wounded. Regional police confirmed that the suspect had been shot and transported to a hospital, adding that he had acted alone and that police officers were among the injured.
An initial report put the death toll at six, while the police spokesman later confirmed five fatalities.
Emergency services and multiple police vehicles rushed to the scene, as officers cordoned off the area around the historic square, one of Poland’s most popular tourist attractions for both local residents and international visitors.
Authorities said there was no immediate information about the nationalities of the victims.
Prime Minister Calls Shooting a Tragedy
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the incident as a “tragic shooting,” saying police were investigating the motive and all circumstances surrounding the attack.
“Our highest praise goes to the heroic police officers who risked their lives in the line of duty,” Tusk said.
His spokesman confirmed that the prime minister was heading to Krakow following the attack.
Witnesses described scenes of panic in the city center. A woman in her sixties said she had seen a man walking around the square and shooting at people.
“It’s a tragedy for Krakow. We’ve never seen anything like this before,” she said.
Other witnesses reported seeing people rushing into shops and restaurants to seek shelter as the normally busy streets around the Main Market Square descended into chaos.
Security Concerns and International Condemnation
Deadly shootings are extremely rare in Poland, a European Union and NATO member with a population of approximately 38 million.
However, the country has remained on high alert following a series of stabbing incidents in October, which Tusk previously condemned as a “cult of violence.”
Poland, a strong supporter of Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, has repeatedly warned of alleged Russian sabotage and hybrid warfare activities on its territory. Moscow has rejected those accusations.
Krakow, located in southern Poland and once the country’s capital, attracts millions of visitors every year. The city recorded 16.2 million visitors in 2025, according to local authorities.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said he had received dozens of messages from foreign ministers around the world expressing their condolences.
President Karol Nawrocki said he was in contact with the relevant authorities and awaiting a full explanation of the circumstances surrounding what he described as “dramatic events.”
“The safety of Poles is an absolute priority,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also offered his condolences, condemning the incident as a “shocking crime.”
“Ukraine stands in solidarity with Poland and the Polish people. People have the right to safety,” Zelenskyy said.
