Six Dead in Krakow Rampage as Police Hunt for Answers Behind Far-Right Attack

A Saturday shooting spree across Krakow’s historic Main Square left six people dead and more than a dozen injured after a gunman drove through the crowded landmark, stopping at multiple locations to fire an automatic weapon into crowds. Polish authorities described the rampage as an “act of terror.” Police officers shot and wounded the suspect, identified as a 25-year-old Polish national wearing military fatigues and a bulletproof vest. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the un-named gunman held “very radical” and “ultranationalistic” views. Hours after the rampage in Poland’s second-largest city, Prime Minister Donald Tusk revealed a grim discovery at the suspect’s home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, roughly 150 kilometers northeast of Krakow. Police found the bodies of three of his close family members — two women and one man — inside the residence. “We have the next acts of this tragedy,” Tusk told reporters.

Terror in the Old Town

The shooting erupted in the heart of Krakow’s Old Town, an area that draws a major portion of the estimated 15 million tourists who visit the city each year. The attacker drove to several points across the square, wielding a military-style long gun. Krakow police spokesperson Katarzyna Cisło reported that the suspect engaged in a wild ride around the perimeter, firing at bystanders and continuing to shoot at responding officers even after he was hit by police gunfire. Officers later found additional weapons and ammunition inside his vehicle. A tram driver reported that a bullet shattered his cabin window near the square, while two horses drawing traditional tourist carriages were also struck. The dead include four women and two men. Authorities confirmed at least three of the deceased women were Polish nationals and one victim was a British citizen, while work continues to identify the remaining two victims. Among the injured, 13 people were hospitalized in serious condition, including the suspect, who underwent surgery. Police commander Marek Boroń noted that five foreign nationals were injured, while Interior Minister Kierwiński confirmed two police officers suffered serious injuries.

Extremism and Security Warnings

Researchers warned that the incident marks a dangerous escalation in domestic extremist violence. Kacper Rekawek, a senior researcher at the International Center for Counterterrorism in The Hague, noted that the suspect’s tactical gear and weapons mirrored those used by “extreme right lone actors” across Europe. “We have had attempts before, but now we can say that these kinds of attacks have become successful in Poland,” Rekawek said. Mass shootings remain rare in Poland, a nation of 37 million people where roughly 411,000 citizens hold gun permits. However, the attack follows mid-October school shootings in Mazovia province that left one dead. Following Saturday’s shooting, Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski announced immediate security upgrades in the capital’s old town, including physical road barriers along major streets. Krakow Mayor Łukasz Gibała declared an official period of mourning through Wednesday, promising residents that the city would recover. Specialist security agencies, including the Internal Security Agency (ABW) and the Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW), have joined the investigation alongside local police to determine how the shooter obtained his arsenal.