Five Dead and Twelve Wounded in Krakow Shooting

A gunman opened fire on pedestrians from a moving car in central Krakow on Saturday, killing five people and injuring approximately twelve others near the city's main market square. Local law enforcement officers intervened during the attack and neutralized the shooter, who was subsequently taken into custody and transported to a medical facility for treatment.

The incident occurred in the second-largest city in Poland, situated approximately 250 kilometers south of the capital city of Warsaw. According to statements provided by the Krakow police department, the driver proceeded through the city's Main Square while firing indiscriminately toward bystanders. Police personnel who responded to the active shooter situation were also among those who sustained injuries during the confrontation.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk addressed the violence in a public statement on the social media platform X, describing the event as a tragic shooting. Tusk stated that he was being kept informed by the Minister of the Interior regarding the ongoing emergency response and security operations in the city.

The Prime Minister confirmed that law enforcement agencies have launched an investigation to determine the background of the perpetrator and all circumstances surrounding the assault. Krakow's municipal authorities had earlier announced that multiple deaths and injuries were reported following shots fired in the central area.

Officers from the Krakow police command continue to examine the scene, collect ballistics evidence, and reconstruct the sequence of events. Authorities have not yet released details regarding the identity of the suspect or the condition of the wounded victims currently receiving care in local hospitals.

Written by Martina Kirchner martina.kirchner@alpineweekly.com