Investigators are examining the background of the assault near Krakow's central historic square after authorities confirmed the suspect and his family legally held sports firearms licenses.
The shooting took place near Slawkowska Street, adjacent to the central plaza, with early findings indicating gunfire came from a moving car. Regional officials stated that the market square victims comprised four women and two men, including three Polish women and one British woman, while the identities of two victims remain undetermined. Between 15 and 16 wounded people received hospital care, including 13 admitted as severe emergency cases.
United States Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose condemned the violence and reaffirmed American solidarity with the nation. "America stands with Poland at this dark hour as Poland stands with her beloved citizens of Krakow," Rose stated. The U.S. Department of State indicated it had no record of American citizens being injured in the attack as of Saturday afternoon.
Investigation and Weapons
Małopolska Police reported that the detained assailant is a 25-year-old Polish citizen. Police spokesperson Katarzyna Cisło stated that the suspect wore commercial camouflage fatigues rather than an official army uniform, carried an AR-15-style rifle, and had multiple additional weapons and ammunition in his car.
Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński stated that counterterrorism units searched the family home to determine if the assailant took firearms kept there by his father. Kierwiński claimed that initial assessments show the shooter was motivated by radical, far-right and ultra-nationalist ideologies.
Emergency Response
Two police officers sustained injuries while stopping the shooter. "One officer was shot, and the other is in very critical condition—3 gunshot wounds. Surgery is underway," Kierwiński said.
Emergency services deployed across the square, where a Polish Medical Air Rescue helicopter landed to assist casualties. Krakow municipal authorities ordered an official period of mourning running from Sunday through Wednesday, lowering flags and canceling public festivities across the city of Krakow.
