A gunman opened fire in Krakow's historic Main Market Square on November 7, 2026, killing six people and injuring 15 others. Authorities later discovered three additional bodies at the suspect's home as investigators examined his background and possible motives.
A gunman drove into the historic center of Krakow, Poland, on Saturday afternoon and opened fire on pedestrians, killing six people and injuring 15 others in one of the country's deadliest shootings in recent decades. Police shot and arrested the suspected attacker following a confrontation near the intersection of Dietla and Stradomska streets. The violence prompted a major emergency response and the closure of the city's popular Main Market Square.
The attack began shortly after 3 p.m. local time on November 7, when authorities received reports of gunfire near Sławkowska Street. According to police, the attacker drove through several locations around the square, firing at people from his vehicle. Four women and two men were killed, including a British citizen. At least three of the victims were Polish women, while officials continued working to identify the remaining victims.
Police Officers Among Those Injured
Two police officers were seriously wounded during the confrontation with the suspected gunman. One officer was shot three times and underwent surgery in critical condition. The attacker was also wounded during the exchange of gunfire and transported to a hospital for treatment.
Krakow police spokesperson Katarzyna Cisło said the gunman wore military-style clothing and a bulletproof vest and carried a military-type long gun. Investigators also discovered additional weapons and ammunition inside his vehicle. Authorities believe the attacker acted alone, although investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The violence extended beyond the Main Market Square. Krakow's municipal transportation agency reported that a tram was struck by gunfire near All Saints Square, shattering a window in the driver's compartment. Neither the driver nor the passengers were injured in that incident.
Three Additional Bodies Discovered at Suspect's Home
Hours after the shooting, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that investigators had discovered three bodies at the suspect's residence in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, approximately 93 miles northeast of Krakow. The deceased, two women and one man, were described as close family members of the suspected attacker.
Authorities had not established the circumstances of those deaths or publicly explained their relationship to the shooting. The discovery expanded the investigation beyond Krakow and raised new questions about events preceding the attack.
Authorities Examine Possible Extremist Motives
Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the suspected attacker, a 25-year-old Polish citizen, held radical ultranationalistic views and appeared to have been influenced by far-right ideology. Investigators are examining whether those beliefs played a role in the attack.
Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz described the shooting as an act of terror against the people of Krakow. Authorities have not publicly established a definitive motive, and investigators continue reviewing evidence collected from the vehicle, the suspect's residence, and the shooting locations.
Historic Tourist Destination Plunged Into Mourning
The attack occurred in Krakow's Main Market Square, a major tourist destination surrounded by historic buildings, restaurants, shops, and landmarks. The square is among the best-known public spaces in Poland and ordinarily attracts large numbers of visitors and residents.
Emergency responders arrived throughout the city center as police secured surrounding streets. Witnesses described people fleeing the square and seeking shelter inside nearby buildings. A medical rescue helicopter landed in the area while emergency teams assisted the wounded.
Krakow Mayor Łukasz Gibała announced an official period of mourning through November 11. City officials urged residents and tourists to avoid the affected streets while investigators and emergency personnel continued their work.
The shooting also prompted additional security measures in Warsaw, where authorities announced plans to strengthen protections around busy streets in the capital's historic district.
As investigators work to establish the attacker's motives and determine the circumstances surrounding the additional deaths, Poland is mourning the victims of an attack that transformed one of its most recognizable public squares into the scene of a national tragedy.