Shooting at Krakow Market Square: Six killed, attacker detained

In Krakow, a man drove a car into the city center and opened fire. He drove about a mile and a half, continuing the fire. The incident killed six people, including a police officer, and injured 15. The perpetrator was wounded and detained. Police later said they had an accomplice with the attacker.

Official statements of the authorities and the first data on victims

Krakow law enforcement agencies confirmed the incident. In its message, the police of the Malopolska Voivodeship in the social network X confirmed the fact of shooting at the Market Square.

According to the latest data, the number of victims increased to six people. This was reported in local law enforcement agencies.

Of the 15 wounded, 12 are in critical condition, the rest suffered minor injuries. This was reported by local authorities.

Elimination of the threat and detention of the shooter

The perpetrator was wounded by a police officer. He was taken to hospital and his health is not yet known. Mariusz Cyarka, a former spokesman for Poland's Main Directorate of National Police, said on Facebook that the attacker was neutralized by a police officer who was also injured.

“I express my deepest respect to the officer who, despite his injuries, continued to intervene and managed to neutralize the attacker. It only fell when the threat was brought under control. In dramatic circumstances, he showed extraordinary courage, composure and responsibility for the safety of others.

According to the portal LoveKrakow, the shooter successfully underwent surgery, and his condition is assessed as stable. The publication also reports that at least six victims are in stable condition.

Equipment of the attacker and chronicle of the attack

Video footage from the detention, distributed on social networks, shows that the offender was wearing a military uniform, a helmet and armed with a machine gun.

Police said that at about 15:00 local time (17:00 Minsk time), an unknown person drove into the Market Square and opened indiscriminate shooting at passers-by.

Telegram-channel SHOT informs that after that the offender drove about a kilometer and a half, continuing to shoot. People fled in panic and hid in courtyards, cafes and shops.

Law enforcement officers managed to stop the attacker at the intersection of Stradomsk and Jozef Dietl streets. He was then shot and detained an hour later.

People were evacuated from the square, police arrived. An hour later, Captain Hubert Ceply, a spokesman for the Krakow State Fire Service, reported two dead and ten wounded. Police later said five people were killed. According to Radio Krakow, a police officer was among the victims.

Did the shooter have accomplices?

Some Polish media have suggested that the shooter may have had an accomplice, but police have denied this information.

“We were dealing with a criminal. This man was detained by the police, said Katarzyna Cislo, a representative of the Voivodeship Police Department in Krakow.

Police also confirmed that the attacker was a Polish citizen. His motives remain unknown.

Krakow police spokesman Jakub Mirohna told PAP news agency that two people were involved in the shooting, one of whom was injured. The fate of the second suspect is not yet known.

Situation at the scene after the emergency

Correspondent of the portal Polsat News Teresa Gut stressed that even after the arrest of the attacker in the square remains a large number of emergency services.

“Police, municipal police and fire services have asked all tourists and everyone in Main Market Square to hide in nearby restaurants or on the streets leading to the square to protect themselves,” she wrote.

According to her, in the windows of restaurants located near the square, there were traces of shots.

Reaction of the Polish authorities

Polish President Karol Nawrotsky in X expressed his condolences to the victims and the families of the victims.

“I am in contact with the relevant services and await a full clarification of the circumstances of these tragic events. The head of the National Security Bureau is heading to Krakow, he wrote.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he was in touch with Interior Minister Marcin Kervinski and that police were actively investigating the incident.

The interior minister announced his intention to go to Krakow.

Polish Defense Minister Vladislav Kosiniak-Kamys also commented on the attack.

“Tragic shooting at the Market Square in Krakow. For us, the residents of Krakow and Malopolska, these are especially difficult moments, the head of the Polish defense ministry said in X.

He also expressed his sincere condolences to all those affected by this tragedy.