A gunman opened fire in Krakow's historic Main Square on Saturday afternoon, killing six people and wounding sixteen others, in an attack that Poland's defence minister has described as an act of terror. Police are investigating a far-right motive, and one of the victims is a British national.
The shooting took place at around 3pm local time in one of the most visited spots in the Polish city, a medieval market square that draws large numbers of tourists and locals. Four men and two women were found dead in the square. Officials said three further bodies were discovered later at the home of the suspect, bringing the total number of fatalities to six, a figure that includes the victims found in the square and those discovered at the residence.
The suspect is a 25-year-old Polish citizen. Authorities said he used an automatic weapon during the attack. Reports indicate that he held ultra-nationalistic views and had shown an interest in far-right ideologies, which is why investigators are examining whether ideology drove the attack. The defence minister's description of the shooting as terrorism has framed the response from the government, although the precise motive and the full sequence of events have not yet been confirmed by investigators.
The identity of the British national killed has been linked to the wider concern among the diplomatic community over the safety of foreign visitors. Sixteen people were wounded, and the scale of casualties has made the incident one of the deadliest mass shootings in Poland in recent years. The investigation is ongoing, and officials have not released further details about the suspect's background, possible accomplices or any prior warning signs.
Krakow, a city that attracts millions of visitors annually, is known for its Gothic and Renaissance architecture and its central square, which has long been a focal point for public life. The attack has left the area cordoned off while police work through the scene and the suspect's home. Officials have not said whether further security measures will be introduced across the city's public spaces.
The shooting raises questions about the threat posed by violent extremism in Europe and the monitoring of individuals who express far-right views online and offline. Investigators are expected to examine the suspect's digital footprint, weapons licensing and associations as they seek to establish how the attack was planned. Until those inquiries are complete, the full motive and details of the attack remain unconfirmed.