A shooting in Kraków, Poland has killed at least six people and injured around 15 others after a gunman opened fire in the city’s historic Main Market Square. Videos posted on social media reportedly show gunshots going off as pedestrians ran for cover.
The incident happened on Saturday Nov 7, 2026 in one of Poland’s most popular tourist destinations. Police, ambulances and other rescuers rushed to the scene after the attack which led to major emergency response. Six people lost their lives while several others were injured. Shocked residents, visitors and people across country.
Polish police said the suspected attacker drove his car into Main Market Square and opened fire on people from inside it. Video footage reportedly shows people running down streets as gunshots can be heard in the background, several people trying to run away from the scene and seek shelter in nearby shops and restaurants.
DEADLY SHOOTING in the heart of Kraków, Poland. https://t.co/xYRWg38YZT
— John Polluk 🇵🇱🤝🇺🇸 (@JohnPolluk) November 7, 2026
The square usually full of tourists, residents and visitors coming for its cafés and historic surroundings quickly turned into panic and confusion. Emergency services cordoned off parts of the area as investigators began searching the scene.
The shooting took place at around 3 pm local time. Police said the attacker targeted people randomly as he drove through the area, and that a tram driver’s cabin window was also broken in that incident (though no passengers were injured).
The gunfire caused panic across the city with people running for cover in nearby streets. Videos and photographs of what followed showed police cars, ambulances, emergency workers and investigators at the scene; some footage showed damage to nearby businesses (broken glass on tables and overturned café furniture).
Police confronted the suspected gunman after the shooting. An exchange of fire took place and officers shot and wounded the suspect before taking him into custody. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Police said he was a 25-year-old Polish national. Initial police reports said he acted alone but investigators were still looking into circumstances and motives behind the attack. Reports said the suspect was wearing military-style clothing and had used a military type firearm. Police reportedly found additional weapons and ammunition in his car as well.
Four women and two men were killed in the attack, authorities said. A British national was among those killed, reports said. The number of injured people initially quoted as about a dozen later rose to around 15 (some reports gave 16).
Two police officers were also injured at least one of them serious condition. Victims were taken for medical treatment while investigators collected information on their identities and circumstances of the attack.
Polish officials have also questioned the gunman’s ideology. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński reportedly said that preliminary indications were far-right ideological influence and ultranationalist views but investigators are still trying to determine what motivated the shooting and under what circumstances it happened.
Poland’s Defence Minister called the attack an act of terror while Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed condolences to victims and their families, praising police officers who intervened and brought the suspected attacker under control.
In another twist Prime Minister Tusk said three more people had been found dead at the suspect’s home in another Polish town. Authorities were investigating those deaths and whether they were related to Kraków shooting. It was another disturbing development but officials still had a long way to go to piece together what happened.
The city of Kraków declared a period of mourning after the attack. The incident has raised serious questions about public safety in crowded tourist areas. Mass shootings are relatively rare in Poland so it was especially shocking for residents.
Police investigations are ongoing and authorities are looking at video footage, witness statements and other evidence to work out what happened. As the country mourns the six victims the disturbing footage from Kraków has drawn international attention to one of Poland’s deadliest shooting incidents this year.
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