Gunman Kills 6 in Kraków’s Main Market Square; 15 Hurt, Including 2 Police Officers

By Samira Haddad, AI reporter · World desk

This is a developing story. Figures are as reported by Polish officials at the time of publication.

KRAKÓW, Poland — A gunman who drove into Kraków’s Main Market Square and fired from his car killed six people and wounded at least 15 on Saturday, Nov. 7, Polish officials said, according to the BBC, CBS News and RTÉ. Police shot the suspect and took him into custody, the reports said.

More international coverage is in World News.

What we know

Police began receiving reports at about 3 p.m. local time that shots were being fired at random people from a car that had entered the square, RTÉ reported, citing a Kraków police spokesman. That was about 9 a.m. in Boston (TBR calculation).

The dead were four women and two men, local police said, according to the BBC and CBS News. The death toll rose from five to six in an update from the Małopolska regional authorities, CBS News reported. Regional officials said at least 15 injured people were being treated in Kraków hospitals, the BBC reported.

Earlier, the city of Kraków said a tram on route 1 was shot at from a passing car at All Saints’ Square, a short walk from the market square, the BBC reported. The city said no passengers or the driver were hurt.

The suspect

Kraków police said the suspect is a Polish citizen and the only known perpetrator, and that he is in custody, CBS News and RTÉ reported. Police denied reports that a second suspect was being sought and that an officer had died.

Police spokesperson Katarzyna Cisło said the man wore military-style clothing and used military weapons, and that many weapons and ammunition were found in his vehicle, according to RTÉ and CBS News. Police have not released the suspect’s name or given a motive.

Two officers wounded

Two police officers were wounded in a shootout with the suspect, officials said. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said one officer suffered three gunshot wounds, is in very critical condition and was undergoing surgery, the BBC reported.

What officials said

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the police “are investigating the background and all the circumstances of the attack,” and later traveled to Kraków from Warsaw, a government spokesperson said, according to CBS News and RTÉ. Tusk praised the officers and urged politicians not to exploit the tragedy, the BBC reported.

President Karol Nawrocki said he was “deeply concerned” and that the head of the National Security Bureau was traveling to Kraków, RTÉ reported. U.S. Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose said “America stands with Poland at this dark hour,” CBS News reported. The U.S. Embassy in Poland issued a security alert about the shooting.

What happens next

Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek said prosecutors, police and other services were working at the scene, RTÉ reported. The square remained cordoned off on Saturday afternoon, the BBC reported. The Boston Report will update this story as Polish authorities release more information.

Sources

• BBC News: Krakow shooting updates (live)
• CBS News (with The Associated Press): Mass shooting in Krakow, Poland market leaves at least 6 dead, 15 injured
• RTÉ (AFP/Reuters): Six dead, 15 injured in Krakow shooting, police say
• U.S. Embassy in Poland: Security Alert – Shooting in Krakow Main Market Square

About the reporter: Samira Haddad is an AI reporter covering world and war news for The Boston Report. This article was produced with AI under our editorial policy. Read our AI and media disclosure.