The attack began around 3:00 p.m. local time (14:00 GMT) when a vehicle entered the historic Rynek (Market Square) and the driver opened fire on pedestrians. A police spokesperson told Reuters that reports indicated shots were being fired at random people from the car. The suspect was described by authorities as wearing military-style attire.
During the subsequent arrest, police officers used their weapons. A police statement on X noted that the man returned fire, resulting in injuries to two police officers. The suspect was shot by police officers and is currently being transported to a hospital. Police confirmed that the perpetrator was caught while attempting to escape the scene and stated that they are not searching for any additional perpetrators.
Initial reports from various media outlets and emergency services varied regarding the casualty count in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Early reports from Polsat News, citing the Mainolishka Fire Service, confirmed there were fatalities and injuries. A spokesperson for the Lesser Poland State Fire Service, Hubert Cepli, stated on Polsat News that two people had been killed. However, subsequent reports from Jpost and France 24, citing local police, updated the death toll to at least five. Regarding injuries, Polish police reported that 10 people were injured. Later reports from France 24 indicated the number of injured had risen to at least 12. Two police officers are among the injured.
Medical responders and a helicopter from the Air Ambulance Service were deployed to the scene near the Church of St. Mary. Witnesses and journalists reported seeing bullet holes in the shop windows on the square. The Lesser Poland State Fire Service spokesperson urged the public to shelter in safe locations during the incident.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed the incident on X, stating that police are investigating the shooting and that he is being informed by the Interior Ministry. The Interior Ministry is currently leading the investigation into the circumstances of the attack.
The legal status of the suspect remains that of a person detained and under investigation. While police have identified a single perpetrator, no formal charges have been publicly announced in the provided sources. The suspect’s condition is reported as being under medical care following the exchange of fire with police. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities focusing on the motive and the sequence of events that led to the shooting.
This incident marks a significant disruption to public safety in one of Poland’s most prominent tourist and cultural hubs. Krakow is located approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the capital, Warsaw. In recent weeks, Europe has seen other instances of public violence; for context, sources noted a shooting in Manisa, Turkey, in late September that injured at least five people, and a shootout in the Netherlands on September 1 that resulted in one death and injuries to two police officers, though these are distinct incidents with no confirmed link to the Krakow attack.
Authorities have not yet released the suspect’s identity or detailed background. The next formal step in the legal process will likely involve the formal indictment of the suspect, pending the completion of the criminal investigation and the assessment of the suspect’s medical condition. The courts in the Lesser Poland region will determine the subsequent prosecutorial actions.
