Poland: shooting in Krakow leaves at least 5 dead and a dozen injured, one gunman neutralized

At least 5 people were killed and a dozen others injured in Krakow this Saturday, November 7, according to Polish media TVN24 and local police.

According to Polish media and police sources with AFP, the shooter was dressed in military uniform and had an assault rifle with glasses. He was driving a car in downtown Krakow and then opened fire on pedestrians at random, before being shot dead by the police. He is currently injured by bullets and taken to hospital, according to local police, who say they are not looking for another shooter at the moment. According to the X account of the police of Lesser Poland, the Polish region in which Krakow is located, “police officers” were injured during the exchanges of fire. A video circulating on social networks shows a police officer shooting the perpetrator on the side of a street, before collapsing himself in turn, visibly injured by a shot.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk speaks of a “tragic shooting” and indicates that “the police are investigating the circumstances and context of the attack”. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński is expected there. The President of the Republic Karol Nawrocki expressed his “immense concern”. “I am awaiting full explanations on the circumstances of these dramatic events (...). The security of Poles is a top priority,” Mr. Nawrocki wrote on X.

Numerous emergency services are on site and a rescue helicopter was notably seen in the center of the square. Law enforcement and emergency services are urging residents and tourists not to visit the market square, and are advising anyone in the area to stay safe.

“At the scene of the event, prosecutors, the police and all law enforcement agencies are already hard at work to secure the clues and elucidate the circumstances of the attack. The State acts. We call for calm and not to hinder the work of the services. We will ensure exemplary punishment for the perpetrator of this crime,” Polish Minister of Justice Waldemar Żurek declared on X.

Poland receives condolences from all over the world, said Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. “I am receiving dozens of messages from foreign ministers around the world expressing their condolences to Poland, to Krakow, to the injured and to the families of the victims. Millions of foreigners who visited the Market Square particularly feel our pain and show us their solidarity,” he wrote on X.

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