Six people have been killed and at least 15 others injured after a gunman opened fire on random people at Krakow’s Main Market Square in southern Poland, in the country’s deadliest shooting in decades.
Three additional bodies, comprising two women and a man, were later discovered at the suspect’s residence, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said. He noted that preliminary findings suggested the victims could be members of the suspect’s immediate family.
Tusk described the incident as an act of “terrorism” and declared two days of national mourning in honour of the victims.
Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said the attacker appeared to have been influenced by extremist beliefs, stating that he was “fascinated by far-right ideologies” and held “ultra-nationalist views”.
The suspect, a Polish citizen born in 2002, reportedly drove a vehicle into the historic square before opening fire on people in the area.
Police said two officers sustained injuries while attempting to apprehend him before he was shot, arrested and taken to a hospital.
According to Andrzej Fijołek, spokesman for the police chief, the attacker used a semi-automatic rifle similar to the American AR-15.
Several weapons were also recovered from the vehicle, Kierwinski said.
Polish police chief Marek Boron confirmed that a British national was among those killed, while five foreign nationals were among the injured receiving treatment in hospital.
Authorities were yet to establish the identities of two of the deceased.
The attack occurred at one of Poland’s most prominent tourist destinations, with the historic Main Market Square attracting millions of visitors annually.
An AFP reporter observed ambulances, police vehicles and forensic investigators at the scene, which was cordoned off following the shooting.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as people sought shelter in nearby shops and restaurants.
“I saw a man shooting at people and walking around the square,” Annette, a woman in her sixties, told AFP.
“It’s a tragedy for Krakow, we’ve never seen anything like this before,” she added.
A 22-year-old French tourist, Stella, expressed concern over the possibility of further attacks in Europe.
“It’s very frightening to think that there are still risks in Europe — risks of a terrorist nature,” she told AFP.
The shooting is the deadliest in Poland since the fall of communism in 1989.
Gun-related attacks remain uncommon in the European Union and NATO member country, which has a population of about 38 million.
However, the country has been on heightened alert following a series of stabbings in October, which Tusk previously condemned as a “cult of violence”.
Poland has also repeatedly raised concerns about alleged Russian sabotage and hybrid warfare activities within its territory, particularly since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Russia has denied the accusations.
Meanwhile, the country has recorded an increase in firearms licences.
Police figures showed that more than 50,000 new licences were issued in 2025, bringing the total number to 411,000.
Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki said he was awaiting a comprehensive account of the incident, adding that “The safety of Poles is an absolute priority.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered condolences to the victims’ families, declaring that “Ukraine stands in solidarity with Poland and the Polish people. People have the right to safety.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also expressed support for Poland, saying that “Germany stands shoulder to shoulder with Poland as a friend and partner during these difficult times.”
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, described the incident as “a tragedy that will be felt far beyond Poland”.
Krakow, a historic city that once served as Poland’s capital, remains a major tourism destination. The city received 16.2 million visitors in 2025.
