Six killed in Krakow shooting; five foreigners among the wounded
On Saturday, a gunman fired from a car at passersby in the main market square of Krakow, southern Poland, killing six and wounding 15. The interior minister said the attacker was fascinated by far-right ideologies.
A gunman driving into the main market square of Krakow, a city in southern Poland, opened fire from his car on random passersby on Saturday afternoon. Six people were killed and 15 wounded. Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski told a press conference that the attacker was fascinated by far-right ideologies and held extremely radical views.
Victims and injured
Kierwinski said the dead were four women and two men, and that one of those killed was a foreign national. After the shooting, 16 people were taken to hospital, among them five foreigners. Two police officers were wounded, one of them seriously.
The attacker
Authorities first said the shooter was a 24-year-old Polish citizen, then corrected his age to 25. Police said he was shot and wounded in an exchange of fire with officers a short distance from where the violence began. He continued firing at police even after being hit.
Krakow police spokeswoman Katarzyna Cislo told broadcaster TVN24 that the man wore military-style clothing, body armour and a mask, and used a military-style long gun, possibly an AR-15 rifle. Several other firearms and a large quantity of ammunition were found in his car. According to Cislo, he made a "crazy" drive around the square, which is why people were hurt in several separate places. She said he acted alone and the public is safe.
The city's municipal transport company reported that at about 3 p.m. a tram driver said a man in a moving car had fired at the tram, and the driver's cab window was smashed.
Reaction
Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz called the incident an act of terror against the people of Krakow. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said police are investigating the motive and circumstances. President Karol Nawrocki wrote on X that his thoughts were with the victims and their families, adding that the safety of Poles is an absolute priority. The mayor of Krakow declared an official mourning period until Wednesday and promised the city would stay open to visitors.
