Politics
Polish PM Tusk Urges Unity After Kraków Market Square Massacre Leaves Six Dead, 15 Wounded
A gunman drove into Kraków's historic main square and opened fire on random pedestrians Saturday, killing at least six and wounding 15 before police shot and captured him. Prime Minister Donald Tusk called for calm and warned politicians not to exploit the tragedy.
KRAKÃW, Poland â A lone gunman drove into this city's historic Main Market Square on Saturday afternoon and opened fire on random pedestrians, killing at least six people and wounding 15 others before police shot and captured him, authorities said.
The attack unfolded around 3 p.m. in the heart of Poland's second-largest city, a UNESCO World Heritage site normally packed with tourists and locals on a weekend afternoon. Local police said the suspect, a Polish national, drove his car onto the square and began shooting at people indiscriminately.
Police officers confronted the gunman and shot him, wounding him before taking him into custody. Several officers were also injured in the exchange. The suspect's motive has not been disclosed, and investigators have not said whether the attack was terrorism-related.
The assault triggered a major emergency response, with police, paramedics and an air ambulance rushing to the scene. Authorities urged the public to avoid the square as officers secured the area and launched a sweeping investigation.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk offered condolences to the victims' families and praised the police officers who "risked their lives" to stop the attacker. He also issued a pointed warning to the country's political class not to turn the bloodshed into a partisan spectacle.
"We will establish all the circumstances of this crime," Tusk wrote on X, adding that politicians should not exploit the tragedy.
The shooting raises immediate questions about public safety and security in Poland's most visited urban centers. The Main Market Square, the largest medieval town square in Europe, is a symbol of Polish national heritage and a magnet for millions of tourists each year. Saturday's attack is among the deadliest mass shootings in the country's modern history.
Poland maintains some of the strictest gun laws in the European Union, requiring permits and psychological evaluations for firearm ownership. The suspect's access to weapons and the circumstances of how he obtained them will be central to the investigation.
As of Saturday evening, police had not released the suspect's identity or a possible motive. The wounded were being treated at area hospitals, and authorities warned the death toll could rise.
The attack drew immediate comparisons to other mass-casualty incidents in European public spaces, and it is likely to intensify debate over security measures in crowded tourist destinations. For now, Tusk's call for restraint suggests the government wants to avoid inflaming political tensions while the investigation is in its earliest stages.
Residents of Kraków and visitors alike were left reeling by the violence in a city long regarded as one of Europe's safest and most welcoming destinations. The square remained cordoned off late Saturday as forensic teams worked through the night.