by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
KRAKOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk rushed to Krakow on Saturday as authorities investigated a mass shooting in the historic city that killed at least six people and wounded 15 others, including two police officers.
The death toll rose from five to six after authorities updated casualty figures following the afternoon attack in one of Poland’s most visited cities. The dead included four women and two men, according to police.
Police said the gunman drove into Krakow’s Main Market Square at around 3 p.m. local time and began firing indiscriminately at people in the crowded tourist area.
Video footage seen by Worthy News showed crowds running for cover as gunshots echoed through the streets. Other footage showed a motionless body lying on the ground as gunfire continued.
The attacker, identified as a 24-year-old Polish citizen, was wearing military-style clothing and a bulletproof vest and carrying a military-type long gun, according to police spokesperson Katarzyna Cisło.
POLICE OFFICERS WOUNDED
Officers confronted the suspect a short distance from the square, where he exchanged gunfire with police before being shot, wounded and detained.
Two police officers were injured during the confrontation, one seriously, authorities said. The suspect was taken to hospital for surgery under police supervision.
Investigators subsequently discovered additional weapons and ammunition inside his vehicle, raising questions about preparations for the attack.
Police said the gunman appeared to have acted alone and assured residents that there was no continuing threat to public safety.
Authorities also confirmed that a tram had come under fire near the square, shattering a window in the driver’s cabin. No injuries were reported aboard the vehicle.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Emergency crews, ambulances and armed police rushed to the scene, while a medical rescue helicopter landed in the square as authorities evacuated victims and secured the surrounding streets.
Tusk said he was receiving regular updates from Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński as investigators worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the killings.
The prime minister and Kierwiński travelled to Krakow for an emergency security briefing with local officials to review the investigation and the response to the attack.
President Karol Nawrocki expressed condolences to the victims and their families and called for a full investigation, stressing the importance of protecting Polish citizens.
Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek appealed for calm and urged the public not to interfere with emergency personnel and investigators working at the scene.
POLISH LEADERS RESPOND
U.S. Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose also condemned the shooting, describing it as a devastating attack that had shattered the country’s peace.
“America stands with Poland at this dark hour as Poland stands with her beloved citizens of Krakow,” Rose wrote on social media.
The motive for the attack remained unclear Saturday evening, and investigators had not established whether the gunman was driven by personal grievances, ideological beliefs or other factors.
The killings shocked Poland, where mass shootings are relatively uncommon and firearms ownership is regulated.
However, the country experienced three attacks at schools in the central Mazovia region over four days in October, leaving one person dead and several others wounded, including children. Those incidents involved knives or other sharp weapons rather than firearms.
HISTORIC TOURIST CITY
Krakow, Poland’s second-largest city, has approximately 817,000 residents and lies roughly 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of Warsaw, the capital.
The city is renowned for its medieval architecture, churches, and historic Main Market Square, which is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Around 15 million tourists visit Krakow annually, with many passing through the historic center, a major destination for tourists, pilgrims and residents.
The attack occurred in a country already facing heightened security concerns because of Russia’s war in neighboring Ukraine and wider tensions across Europe, although authorities announced no connection between the shooting and those developments.
Investigators were expected to examine the suspect’s background, weapons and possible motives as Poland mourned one of its deadliest shootings in recent years.
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