Six Dead After Deadly Mass Shooting in Krakow’s Crowded Tourist Square

POLICY WIRE — Krakow, Poland — A chaotic scene unfolded in the heart of Krakow on Saturday afternoon when a lone gunman opened fire in a crowded market area, leaving six people dead and 15 others injured.

Local authorities reported that the 24-year-old Polish national targeted random pedestrians while driving his vehicle into the Main Square, a central hub for tourists, at approximately 3pm local time.

The interior minister confirmed via social media that the casualties include four women and two men. The violence also resulted in two police officers being struck by bullets, one of whom sustained serious injuries.

Following the initial attack, officers engaged the suspect in a gunfight shortly from the scene. The perpetrator was wounded during the encounter and taken into custody before being moved to a hospital for surgical treatment.

Katarzyna Cisło, a representative for the Krakow police department, noted that the attacker was dressed in military-style clothing and a bulletproof vest. He utilized a long gun of military type to carry out the assault.

Investigators discovered a significant cache of ammunition and additional weapons inside the suspect’s car. Cisło stated that the gunman continued to fire at law enforcement even after he had been hit.

The attack was described as a “wild ride” through the square, which accounts for why injuries were reported across multiple points in the area.

Social media footage captured moments of terror as bystanders fled the open square to seek refuge in narrow side streets. Police have confirmed the individual acted by himself and that the public is no longer in danger.

Questions remain regarding the legality of the firearm used in the massacre and the other weapons recovered from the vehicle. While Poland has roughly 37 million residents, mass shootings are rare in the country, despite approximately 411,000 citizens holding firearm permits.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk used social media to commend the bravery of the officers who responded to the crisis. President Karol Nawrocki expressed his condolences to the victims, the injured, and their grieving families.

The scene was swarmed by emergency vehicles, including a Polish Medical Air Rescue helicopter landing in the square. A tram driver also reported that his cabin window was shattered when the gunman fired from a moving car around 3pm.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)