Terror in the heart of Krakow... A gunman kills 6 people and turns Poland's most famous square into a field of blood

On Saturday afternoon (November 7, 2026), the city of Krakow, southern Poland, witnessed a bloody armed attack after a man entered the main market square with his car and began shooting randomly at passers-by in one of the country's busiest tourist destinations.

The attack resulted in the killing of six people, including four women and two men, and the injury of 15 others, including two policemen, one of whom was seriously injured. The authorities also reported that among the dead was a foreign citizen, while five foreigners were among the injured.

An armed chase ends with the attacker being injured

A police spokesman told Reuters that the first reports were received around three in the afternoon (14:00 GMT), after the attacker began shooting randomly from his car at those in the square.

According to the police, security forces were able to track down the suspect and engage in an exchange of fire with him near the site of the attack, before he was injured, controlled, and taken to the hospital for surgery.

Video clips circulated on social media showed policemen shooting from close range a man wearing a military-style uniform.

Weapons, ammunition... and suspicions of right-wing extremism

The police revealed that the suspect was a 25-year-old Polish citizen and was moving alone.

The authorities also found additional weapons and large quantities of ammunition inside his car.

Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kirvinski said during a press conference: “All indications indicate that the perpetrator held very extremist views,” adding that investigators found several weapons in the car, and that “all indications suggest that he was fascinated by far-right ideologies.”

Authorities: A "terrorist" attack targeted civilians

Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kośniak-Kamisz described the attack as a "terrorist act" targeting residents of Kraków.

Kervinsky confirmed on the X platform the death toll, noting that among the injured were two police officers, one of whom was in serious condition.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Karol Navrotsky expressed their shock and regret over the incident, which comes at a time when the country is experiencing a high state of security alert after a series of violent incidents over the past months.

A new mystery... Three bodies inside the suspect's house

In a shocking development that may change the course of the investigation, the authorities announced that three people were found dead inside the suspect’s home.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said during a press conference for the Crisis Management Team that the bodies were discovered using photos taken by a drone, explaining that the victims were “two women and a man.”

Tusk added that initial indications suggest that those killed were close members of the suspect's family, while the authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of their deaths and their relationship to the attack.

Fears of explosives and Tusk pledges to reveal the truth

The Polish Prime Minister indicated that there were suspicions that the house contained explosive materials or devices, without revealing additional details about the perpetrator’s motives.

He said that the police, security services and the Public Prosecution are working intensively, stressing that the authorities will do everything in their power to uncover the background of the attack and announce the motives of its perpetrator as soon as possible.

Broad European solidarity after the attack

The repercussions of the attack were not limited to Poland, but extended throughout Europe. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his deep concern over the attack, stressing Germany's solidarity with Poland in this difficult circumstance. He wrote on the X platform: “The events in Krakow have left a deep impact on me. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. Germany, as a friend and partner, stands by Poland in these difficult times. I wish all those injured a speedy recovery.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also described the incident as "shocking," while European Union foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas considered what happened "a tragedy whose impact goes far beyond Poland's borders."

Messages of solidarity and condolences came from European officials and leaders, amid a state of shock over one of the bloodiest shooting incidents in the country in recent years.

A famous tourist city is under shock

Krakow is located about 250 kilometers from Warsaw, the capital of Poland. Krakow's population is more than 800,000 people, making it the second largest city in Poland. Krakow is one of the most prominent historical and tourist cities in Central Europe, and it received more than 16 million visitors during the year 2025.

Given the rarity of fatal shooting incidents in Poland, the attack sparked widespread shock within the country, and brought back to the forefront debate about the dangers of violent extremism and the security challenges facing the European country.