A violent attack in Krakow, Poland, has left at least six people dead and several others injured. The incident began shortly before 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT) when a gunman drove his vehicle into the city’s historic Main Market Square and began firing randomly at pedestrians. With the sound of gunfire clearly heard, footage from the scene shows scenes of panic as people fled. The gunman was shot but is alive and has been arrested. Apparently having been injured himself, the officer then falls to the ground. Seemingly from bullets, with glass shards scattered along the floor, shop windows in the square have signs of damage. How many people have died and been injured. Jonathan said: “We ran down the side of the church and through the side door and hid with several other people until the gunfire died down. He added, the officer is undergoing surgery. In the corner of the square, when the shooting started, the couple were outside St Mary’s Basilica. Caitlin Shasby from Newcastle arrived in Krakow yesterday with her friend Jon for a long weekend.
Security forces responded to the scene within minutes, engaging the assailant in a gunfight that ended with the suspect being shot and taken into custody. Authorities noted that the quick intervention of armed officers likely prevented further casualties. Among the victims are four women and two men, including one British national, three Polish citizens, and two individuals who have not yet been identified. What do we know about the suspect and motive. According to polish media has, The suspect had a firearms permit and may have obtained the weapons from his family home. More than 20 with it sounding like multiple different firearms – there were two distinctly different noises, a lot of shots were fired. According to she, They heard shots from their hotel room but were not sure what was happening until their hotel rang them and told them to “stay in our rooms until further notice”.
Following the event, police searched the suspect’s residence and discovered three additional bodies—two women and one man.
Investigations into the suspect’s background are ongoing, with police identifying the individual as a 25-year-old Polish man.
Reports suggest the attacker was dressed in military-style clothing and carried military-grade weapons, though he was not a soldier.
A government minister stated that initial inquiries indicate the perpetrator was an ultra-nationalist influenced by far-right ideologies.
The shooting caused widespread panic in one of Europe’s busiest medieval squares. A busy location which is also a popular tourist destination, the shooting happened in one of the largest medieval squares in Europe.
Witnesses described hearing dozens of gunshots, which shattered the windows of a passing tram and left bullet holes in shopfronts. Sixteen people in total, including five foreign nationals and two police officers, were hospitalized. One of the officers remains in critical condition after being shot three times during the effort to apprehend the suspect.
As the investigation proceeds, police are examining the suspect’s vehicle, found at the intersection of Dietla and Stradomska streets, for potential explosive devices, leading to the evacuation of nearby residential buildings. Krakow Mayor Lukasz Gibala has officially declared a period of mourning in the city, which is set to continue until Wednesday, November 11. City officials have urged people who live in the city and tourists to stay away from the area while an investigation continues. Residents of nearby buildings are being evacuated while the operation is under way.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who traveled to Krakow to oversee the response, emphasized that authorities are thoroughly investigating the circumstances behind the tragedy.
High-ranking officials, including the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas and US ambassador to Poland Tom Rose, have condemned the violence as a savage and murderous event with ramifications reaching far beyond national borders.
President Karol Nawrocki expressed deep concern and requested a comprehensive explanation regarding the sequence of the attack. According to president Karol Nawrocki, He was “deeply concerned” and was awaiting “a full explanation of the circumstances surrounding these tragic events”.
