At least five people were killed and more than 10 injured when a man opened fire from a car near the main market square in Krakow, southern Poland, on Saturday. The suspect was shot by officers and taken into custody, while emergency teams attended to the wounded in the city's busy historic centre soon afterwards.
The shooting took place at about 3 pm local time on November 7, close to the Main Market Square, an area visited by residents and tourists. According to the regional police, a man drove a car into the square and began firing towards people who were there.
Reports from the scene indicated that the vehicle had approached from Slawkowska Street. Fire service spokesman Hubert Cieply told the Polish news agency PAP that shots had been fired from a moving car in that area. Police subsequently confirmed that a suspect had been detained.
Officers shot the suspect during the police operation, and he was taken to hospital, Polish news outlets reported. The authorities have not publicly identified the man or given details of his condition.
Two police officers were among those injured, according to reports citing the regional police. The death toll was initially reported as two, with at least 10 people injured. Police later put the number of deaths at five and said more than 10 people had been wounded.
Several emergency vehicles were sent to the city centre as police secured the surrounding streets. Ambulances and fire crews attended the scene, while an air ambulance helicopter landed near St Mary's Basilica, beside the main square.
The fire service initially asked residents and visitors to stay away from the market square and urged people already nearby to move to a safe place. The appeal was issued while officers were still trying to locate the armed suspect.
Krakow's municipal authorities confirmed the shooting in a social media statement. They said emergency personnel had reached the square and that police were also carrying out an operation on Dietla Street.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X that the interior minister was keeping him informed of the situation. He said police were examining the circumstances of the attack. No official explanation for the shooting had been made public.
Jestem na bieżąco informowany przez ministra spraw wewnętrznych o sytuacji w Krakowie po tragicznej strzelaninie. Policja bada tło i wszystkie okoliczności zamachu.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) November 7, 2026
Krakow, Poland's second-largest city, lies about 250 kilometres south of Warsaw. Its Main Market Square is a major destination in the historic centre, which draws large numbers of visitors throughout the year.
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