Six Killed in Krakow Mass Shooting as Three More Bodies Found at Suspect's Home

Gunman kills six in Krakow market square as three more bodies found at suspect’s home

A 25-year-old Polish man opened fire with an automatic weapon in Krakow’s Main Market Square on Saturday afternoon, killing six people and wounding 16 others, The Irish Times reported. The attack, which began at approximately 3 p.m. local time, saw the gunman drive a vehicle into the historic tourist center and fire randomly at pedestrians, according to reporting from CNN and the BBC.

The violence extended beyond the crowded square. During a search of the suspect’s home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, located roughly 125 miles north of Krakow, authorities discovered the bodies of two women and one man, The Irish Times reported. Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated these three individuals were believed to be members of the suspect’s family.

Six Killed in Krakow Mass Shooting as Three More Bodies Found at Suspect's Home — Photo: The Guardian

Poland’s Defense Minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, characterized the massacre as an “act of terror.” The suspect, who was dressed in military-style clothing and used military-grade weapons, was injured during a gunfight with police and has been transported to a hospital for surgery, per the BBC. While the attacker utilized military equipment, Kosiniak-Kamysz explicitly denied reports that the man was a member of the Polish Armed Forces, noting he has never had any connection to the military, CNN reported.

Casualties and the impact on international visitors

The death toll includes four women and two men. Polish police confirmed that one of the deceased was a British citizen, The Irish Times reported. Among the 16 wounded, five are foreign nationals from Britain, Austria, Germany, Portugal, and Russia, according to a Polish government spokesperson cited by The Guardian.

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Law enforcement officers also sustained injuries during the confrontation. CNN reported that one officer suffered a single gunshot wound, while a second officer was shot three times. Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek issued an urgent plea for AB+ blood donations to assist the second officer, who has a non-functioning lung. Prime Minister Tusk praised the officers on social media, stating they likely saved many lives by facing the attacker despite the personal risk.

The chaos of the three-minute rampage was captured in footage showing the suspect’s vehicle speeding through the city center while bystanders fled for cover. The BBC reported that the gunfire shattered shop windows and targeted public transit; a tram driver told the Krakow municipal transport company that the suspect’s moving car shot at his vehicle, shattering the cabin window.

Ideology and the rising scale of firearm ownership

While the specific motive remains under investigation, authorities have provided insight into the perpetrator’s mindset. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński stated at a news conference that the 25-year-old was “fascinated by far-right ideology” and held “very radical” and “ultra-nationalistic” views, The Irish Times reported.

Police standing next to a crashed vehicle at a crime scene in Krakow — Photo: BBC

The attack occurs against a backdrop of shifting firearm statistics in Poland. According to police statistics cited in a Euronews report and mentioned by The Guardian, the number of legally owned firearms in the country surpassed one million earlier this year. Data shows that Poland issued a record 50,700 gun permits in 2025, and the total number of active permits registered in 2025 was nearly double the figure recorded in 2015.

Krakow shooting: Gunman in military gear shot by police after killing six | LIVE

Although Poland maintains strict regulations regarding the acquisition of firearms and the possession of military-style weapons, the scale of the shooting has prompted immediate security escalations. Tusk has vowed to detain any possible supporters of the perpetrator, while a massive armed police presence has been deployed across Krakow and the capital, Warsaw, The BBC reported.

“Today’s event in Krakow has shaken all of Poland.”
— Adam Szłapka, Government Spokesperson, via X

The political response has been swift, with President Karol Nawrocki expressing deep concern for the victims and their families. A period of national mourning has been declared in Krakow, lasting until November 11, The Guardian reported.

Investigators are currently processing evidence found in the suspect’s vehicle, which CNN reported contained “many pieces of weapons and ammunition.” Authorities continue to seek information from the public as the investigation into the radicalized shooter and the deaths at his residence proceeds.

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