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A mass shooting in Krakow’s Main Market Square on Saturday left six people dead and at least 15 others injured. Now, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has confirmed that three more bodies were found at the home of the gunman. Investigators believe the victims — two women and one man — were relatives of the attacker.
Deadly Attack in the Heart of Krakow
The shooting took place around midday in one of Poland’s most visited public spaces. Police said four women and two men died in the attack. A police officer was also seriously wounded, shot three times, and underwent surgery following the incident.
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Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński confirmed the officer’s condition. Video circulating on social media showed what appeared to be an injured officer firing at the suspect, then dropping to his knees. The officer struggled to reload his weapon and appeared to clutch his right arm. Małopolska Police later clarified on X that no officer had died, noting that earlier reports to the contrary were incorrect.
The attacker, a Polish national, fired shots from a vehicle moving through the square. Police shot him at the scene and took him to hospital around 3 p.m. local time. Krakow police spokesperson Katarzyna Cisło told TVN24 that the gunman wore military-style fatigues and used a military-type long gun. Officers also found additional weapons and ammunition in his vehicle.
Far-Right Links Under Investigation
Authorities are now examining reports that the gunman held far-right political views. Kierwiński said officials are evaluating those claims as part of the broader investigation. Meanwhile, Krakow announced a mourning period running through November 11 in response to the tragedy.
Disturbing footage posted online showed a black sedan racing through the square. Dozens of people fled in all directions as gunfire erupted. Other clips showed emergency responders performing lifesaving measures on victims, with bodies visible across the surrounding streets.
Eyewitness Accounts
Taylor Dorfmeister, a 21-year-old American student from Santa Cruz, California, was visiting Poland while studying in Italy. He was in the square with his roommate when the shooting began. He told NBC News that the crowd took a moment to react before everyone started running.
Dorfmeister took shelter inside a nearby building. “We ran up the stairs in the building to hide and it was a dead end, which is when I was the most terrified since the gunshots were loud and near,” he said. He believed the shots were coming from the building’s first floor and described being “fully prepared for the worst.”
A Historic Square Struck by Violence
The Main Market Square sits at the center of Krakow’s medieval Old Town. Laid out in 1257, it is home to the historic Cloth Hall and St. Mary’s Basilica. UNESCO recognizes it as the largest market square in Europe. During World War II, Nazi forces renamed it for Adolf Hitler and used it as a propaganda base.
U.S. Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose responded to the attack on X. “America stands with Poland at this dark hour as Poland stands with her beloved citizens of Krakow,” he wrote.
