Five Killed and More Than a Dozen Injured in Shooting in Poland’s Krakow

Five people have been killed and around a dozen others injured after a gunman opened fire in the Main Market Square in Krakow, Poland, on Saturday, 7 November, according to local police.

The shooting happened at approximately 3pm local time when a man reportedly drove into the busy square and began firing at people from his vehicle. Police officers shot the suspected attacker, who was subsequently taken to hospital, authorities said.

The incident took place in Krakow's historic Main Market Square, one of the city's best-known public spaces and a popular destination for residents and visitors.

Małopolska Police confirmed that five people had died and around a dozen others were injured, including police officers. However, authorities said details about the full scale of the incident were still being established.

In a statement posted on social media, police said the man had driven into the square before firing at people at random from his car.

The suspected attacker was shot by officers and taken to hospital. His identity and medical condition had not been confirmed in the initial reports.

Emergency services, including police officers, firefighters and ambulance crews, attended the scene. Images from the area showed emergency vehicles and personnel responding in the market square.

Krakow's municipal government confirmed that shots had been fired in the Main Market Square and urged residents and visitors to avoid the area while emergency services carried out their work.

Police were also conducting an operation on Dietla Street as part of the wider response.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he was being kept informed by Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński about the situation.

In a social media statement, Tusk described the shooting as tragic and confirmed that police were investigating the background and circumstances of the attack.

A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry said Kierwiński was travelling to Krakow to follow developments at the scene.

Authorities had not established a motive for the shooting in the initial reports. The identity of the suspected attacker and the circumstances leading up to the incident also remained unclear.

Police and emergency services continued their work as officials sought to establish the precise number of casualties and the condition of those injured.

Krakow is Poland's second-largest city and is located approximately 250 kilometres (155 miles) south of the capital, Warsaw.

The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities expected to provide further information as more details are confirmed.