Shots were fired from a car in the center of the Polish city of Krakow (Krakow). Six people were killed, the police in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship near X said. There were at least 15 injured, a fire brigade spokesman told the PAP news agency.
As the Polish newspaper “Fakt” reports, police officers are said to have been injured in the shooting. The police in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship said the suspected perpetrator was shot by officers and was being taken to a hospital. There was initially no information about possible accomplices.
Numerous weapons and ammunition were found in the suspected Krakow shooter's car. “The man was wearing military-like clothing and was using a military-style long gun, possibly an AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle,” a police spokeswoman told TVN24. Many other weapons and ammunition were seized from his car.
“The perpetrator was injured and arrested,” wrote Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek on “The state is acting,” he emphasized. He appealed to the public to remain calm. Strict punishment will be ensured for the alleged perpetrator.
The shots on the Great Square, the main square of the capital of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, were fired from a moving car, the Polsat News channel reported, citing emergency services. The authorities initially appealed to people in the surrounding area to go to a safe place.
The PAP news agency reported, citing a photo reporter, that the alleged perpetrator collided with another car at an intersection as he fled. He then jumped out of his vehicle and shot at the emergency services. They returned fire and ultimately arrested the man. Among other things, a military backpack and a bayonet were found in his trunk.
Initially nothing was known about the background. Images from the scene showed ambulances and police officers securing the area in central Krakow. Videos on social media showed that a rescue helicopter landed on the site. “Around 3 p.m., a man who had driven a car into the market square began shooting at random people from the vehicle,” the police said on Platform X. She confirmed that the alleged perpetrator had been arrested.
Eyewitnesses report chaotic scenes. “Only now is the adrenaline wearing off,” one person told TV news channel Polsat News. "At first there was great chaos. People started moving hectically, I saw overturned tables." Another witness reported: "We even saw the shooter. We hid in the back rooms. It all happened so suddenly."
Another eyewitness told the station that people were running in all directions. “Suddenly a car drove up and a man started shooting out the window of the car,” he explained. The attacker was wearing a helmet or mask. His face was not visible.
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he would be kept informed about the situation in Krakow after the "tragic shooting." “The police are investigating the background and all circumstances of the incident,” wrote the liberal-conservative politician on X.
With more than 800,000 inhabitants, Krakow is the second largest city in Poland. It is considered a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. In addition to the Great Square, important sights include the castle on Wawel Hill and the cathedral. The university town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
