Five Killed and More Than a Dozen Injured in Krakow Market Square Shooting
Five people have been killed and more than a dozen injured after a gunman opened fire in the Main Market Square in Krakow, Poland, on Saturday afternoon.
The shooting happened at around 3pm local time (2pm GMT) in Rynek Główny, the historic main square in the centre of Krakow, Poland’s second-largest city and one of its most popular tourist destinations.
What happened
According to Krakow police, a man drove a car into the Main Square and began firing at random people from the vehicle. The car entered the square from Sławkowska Street.
“Five people died and over a dozen were injured in the incident at the Main Market Square,” Polish police said in a statement on X. “The perpetrator was shot by police officers and is currently being transported to a hospital.”
Police officers were among the injured. Emergency services rushed to the scene, and an air ambulance helicopter landed in the square.
What officials have said
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said police were investigating the shooting and that he was being kept informed by the interior minister.
“I am being kept informed by the minister of the interior about the situation in Krakow following the tragic shooting,” Tusk said in a post on X. “The police are investigating the background and all circumstances of the attack.”
Why it matters
Krakow’s Main Market Square is one of the largest medieval squares in Europe and one of Poland’s most visited places, drawing around 16 million visitors a year. A random shooting in such a crowded public space is rare in Poland, a country with strict gun laws and very low rates of gun violence.
The attack is a reminder that even some of Europe’s safest and busiest tourist spots are not immune to sudden violence — and it will raise fresh questions about how open public squares can be protected without closing them off.
What happens next
Police have not named the suspect or given any possible motive, and they have not released details about the victims. The gunman is in hospital after being shot by officers. Police said they were not searching for any other suspects.
Investigators are expected to confirm the identities of the victims and the shooter, and to establish how the gunman got a weapon and why he opened fire.
Sources
- Al Jazeera, “At least five people killed in shooting in Poland’s Krakow”, 7 November 2026: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/11/7/casualties-reported-after-shooting-in-polands-krakow
- Associated Press via Ottumwa Courier, “Gunman opens fire in Polish city of Krakow, killing 5 people and injuring at least …”, 7 November 2026: https://www.ottumwacourier.com/news/national_news/gunman-opens-fire-in-polish-city-of-krakow-killing-5-people-and-injuring-at-least/article_ce85a9a6-a1bd-5b4d-823a-3493bfc758af.html
- ARN News Centre, “Two killed, at least 10 injured in shooting in Krakow”, 7 November 2026: https://www.arnnewscentre.ae/news/international/two-kiled-at-least-10-injured-in-shooting-in-krakow/
- Times of India, “At least 5 killed, 10 injured in Poland shooting; gunman shot”, 7 November 2026: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/at-least-5-killed-10-injured-in-poland-shooting-gunman-shot/articleshow/135640186.cms
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
