The 24-year-old Polish citizen drove a car into the Main Market Square around 3 p.m
The 24-year-old Polish citizen drove a car into the Main Market Square around 3 p.m. local time, opening fire with a long military-type firearm while wearing military-style attire. Police shot and wounded the gunman during a subsequent gunfight nearby, taking him into custody; police confirmed he acted alone.
Casualties and Police Shootout in Kraków
Four women and two men died in the rampage, which took place in a popular tourist destination that drew 16.2 million visitors in 2025. Fifteen others sustained injuries, including two police officers hurt during the armed confrontation. One officer suffered a gunshot wound while the second officer was critically injured after suffering three gunshot wounds during the exchange and undergoing subsequent surgery. The gunman also fired at a passing tram operated by municipal transport company MPK, shattering the driver’s cabin window while the vehicle passed nearby the main square, though no one onboard was hurt. Emergency responders dispatched numerous ambulances and an air ambulance helicopter to the area around St. Mary’s Basilica as bystanders fled and hid inside shops.
Official Responses Across Poland and Europe
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he was being kept informed by the interior minister and was on his way to Kraków, writing on X that police were investigating the background and all circumstances of the attack. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński praised the officers, saying they risked their lives and acted heroically in quickly apprehending the attacker. President Karol Nawrocki stated he was deeply concerned by the tragic events, dispatching the head of the National Security Bureau to the southern city. Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek vowed that authorities would ensure the perpetrator faces full accountability and severe punishment. International figures also responded, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemning the crime and expressing solidarity, while Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee confirmed the Irish embassy in Warsaw was monitoring the situation.
Shocked by news of a drive-by shooting this afternoon in central Krakow. My thoughts are with the loved ones of the victims & all who were injured. Our Embassy in Warsaw is monitoring the situation. Any Irish citizens in the area should follow the directions of local authorities.
Investigation Into Weapons and Motive
Investigators have not established a motive for the attack, and police confirmed that the suspect is the sole perpetrator, denying reports about a possible second perpetrator. The incident comes as Poland grapples with a surge in legally owned firearms, which surpassed one million for the first time, alongside a record 50,700 gun permits issued in 2025, heightened national security alerts following recent stabbing incidents, and persistent government warnings regarding Russian hybrid warfare. Police are conducting operations in several locations in Kraków’s historic center to process the crime scene.