Five dead, at least ten injured in Krakow Main Square shooting; suspect arrested

Poland, Kraków: Police and emergency services are deployed on the main market square. Source: Art Service/pap/dpa

In the center of the Polish city of Kraków, a man apparently fired indiscriminately at passersby. Five people died and at least ten were injured. According to police, the suspected perpetrator has been arrested.

Shots Fired from a Vehicle

Shots were fired from a car in the center of the Polish city of Kraków (Krakow). Five people were killed, the police of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship announced on X. There were at least ten injured, a fire service spokesperson told the PAP news agency. According to the Polish newspaper "Fakt," police officers were also injured in the shooting. The suspected perpetrator was reportedly shot by emergency personnel and then arrested.

The shots on the Main Square (Rynek Główny), the central square of the capital of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, were fired from a moving car, broadcaster Polsat News reported, citing emergency services. The authorities initially appealed to people in the nearby area to move to a safe location.

Perpetrator Allegedly Shot Indiscriminately at Passersby

Nothing was initially known about the background of the incident. Videos on social media showed a rescue helicopter landing on the square. "At around 3 p.m., a man who had driven a car onto the market square began shooting at random people from the vehicle," police stated on the platform X. They confirmed that the suspected perpetrator had been arrested.

Police, rescue helicopter and ambulances are deployed on the main market square. An air rescue helicopter landed at the scene. Shots were fired in the center in the afternoon. Source: Art Service/PAP/dpa

Tusk: Police Investigating Background and All Circumstances

Poland's head of government, Donald Tusk, stated that he was being kept continuously informed about the situation in Kraków following the "tragic shooting." "The police are investigating the background and all circumstances of the incident," the liberal-conservative politician wrote on X.

Kraków, with more than 800,000 inhabitants, is Poland's second-largest city. It is considered a popular destination for tourists from around the world. In addition to the Main Square, key landmarks include the castle on Wawel Hill and the cathedral. The university city is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Reuters/ceb