A man drove a vehicle into the Main Market Square in Krakow, Poland, and opened fire on pedestrians, killing at least six people and injuring 15 others. Local authorities reported that the suspect, identified as a Polish citizen who acted alone, fired at random from his car before being shot and apprehended by police.
The incident occurred at approximately 3 p.m. local time on a Saturday in the center of Poland's second-largest city. Initially, the Malopolski regional government reported five fatalities, but later updated the death toll to six in a social media post. Police officers were among those wounded during the event.
Katarzyna Cisło, a spokesperson for the Krakow police, told TVN24 that the suspect was wearing military-style fatigues and utilized a military-type long gun. Upon searching the suspect's vehicle, investigators discovered ammunition and various parts of other weapons. The suspect was wounded during a confrontation with officers a short distance from the square and was transported to a hospital for treatment.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that he is receiving regular updates from the Minister of the Interior regarding the investigation into the attacker's background and the circumstances of the event. Tom Rose, the U.S. ambassador to Poland, issued a statement expressing that the United States stands with Poland following the attack.
For the broader population of Poland, a country of 38 million people, the event represents a notable breach of public safety in one of its most prominent cultural and commercial hubs. The presence of a military-type long gun and additional weapon components in the suspect's car raises questions for investigators and policymakers regarding the acquisition of such equipment. Residents may notice an increased police presence or security cordons around the Main Market Square as the investigation continues into the suspect's motives and history.
The knock-on effects include an ongoing investigation by the Ministry of the Interior and Krakow police to determine how the lone perpetrator planned the attack. As of the latest reports, the suspect remains in police custody under medical supervision. Further details regarding court appearances, formal charges, or the identification of the deceased victims have not yet been released by the Malopolski regional government or the Prime Minister's office.