Krakow gunman who killed six had far-right leanings, minister says

• Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the attack as an act of "terrorism" and announced two days of national mourning.
• Police said the suspect, a Polish citizen born in 2002, opened fire indiscriminately at the city's historic Main Market Square.
• Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said the suspect appeared to be fascinated by far-right ideologies and held ultra-nationalist views.

The death toll from a shooting in Krakow, Poland's second-largest city, rose to six on Saturday, with at least 15 others wounded after a gunman opened fire in the historic city centre, prompting Prime Minister Donald Tusk to describe the attack as an act of "terrorism".

The shooting took place at the city's landmark Main Market Square, a major tourist destination, where the suspect reportedly drove a car before opening fire indiscriminately at people in the area.

The suspect, a Polish citizen born in 2002, was wearing military-style clothing and armed with a semi-automatic rifle resembling the American AR-15, according to police.

Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said preliminary findings suggested the attacker was influenced by far-right and ultra-nationalist ideologies.

"Everything suggests that he was fascinated by far-right ideologies" and held "ultra-nationalist views," Kierwinski said, adding that several weapons had been found inside the suspect's vehicle.

Two police officers were wounded while attempting to stop the gunman. Officers subsequently shot the suspect, who was detained and taken to hospital.

"Until now in Poland we haven't had such drastic cases of terrorism," Tusk told reporters in Krakow. "That's what we have to call this cruel attack on people's lives here in Krakow."

Three bodies found at suspect's home

In a further development, Tusk said authorities had discovered three bodies,  two women and a man, at the suspect's residence.

"Much suggests that they are members of the (suspect's) immediate family," the prime minister said, without providing further details about their identities or the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Polish police chief Marek Boron confirmed that a British national was among those killed. Two other victims had not yet been identified, while authorities were working to establish the nationalities of all those affected.

Five foreign nationals from Britain, Germany, Austria, Portugal and Russia were among those wounded, according to the Interior Ministry.

Tusk announced that Poland would observe two days of national mourning following the attack, while praising the officers who confronted the gunman.

"Our highest praise goes to the heroic police officers who risked their lives in the line of duty," he said.

Witnesses describe scenes of panic

The shooting sent people fleeing into nearby shops and restaurants as emergency services rushed to the scene. Police sealed off the Main Market Square, while ambulances, heavily armed officers and forensic investigators were deployed across the area.

Witnesses described scenes of panic and desperate attempts to save the wounded.

"I saw a man shooting at people and walking around the square," a witness identified as Annette, who was in her sixties, told AFP.

"It's a tragedy for Krakow, we've never seen anything like this before," she added.

Musician Daniel Wolny, 32, said he saw one person dead and several others lying injured as bystanders attempted to stop the bleeding and resuscitate victims.

"They were taking off their clothes, trying to stem the blood with those clothes," he told AFP.

Stella, a 22-year-old tourist from the French city of Rennes, said the attack had raised fears about the threat of terrorism in Europe.

"It's very frightening to think that there are still risks in Europe, risks of a terrorist nature," she said.

Gabriel Bogdan, a 33-year-old employee at a nearby bar, described Krakow as an exceptionally safe city, adding that the shooting was an unprecedented event for residents.

International reactions

The attack prompted condemnation and expressions of solidarity from European and international leaders.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was "shocked and saddened by the appalling shooting", offering condolences to the victims' families and those injured.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also expressed solidarity with Poland, saying: "Ukraine stands in solidarity with Poland and the Polish people. People have the right to safety."

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany stood "shoulder to shoulder with Poland as a friend and partner during these difficult times".

The European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, described the shooting as "a tragedy that will be felt far beyond Poland".

Polish President Karol Nawrocki called for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack, stressing that public safety remained an absolute priority.

Rare violence in Poland

Deadly shootings remain relatively uncommon in Poland, an EU and NATO member of approximately 38 million people. The attack comes amid heightened security concerns following a series of stabbings in October, which Tusk previously condemned as a "cult of violence".

Poland has also repeatedly warned about alleged Russian sabotage and hybrid warfare operations on its territory, particularly since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Moscow has rejected the accusations.

Meanwhile, the country has experienced a significant increase in firearms licences. More than 50,000 new licences were issued in 2025, bringing the total number to approximately 411,000, according to police figures.

Krakow, which served as Poland's capital for centuries before the seat of government moved to Warsaw, remains one of the country's leading tourist destinations. The city received approximately 16.2 million visitors in 2025.

Authorities have not yet disclosed a full account of the suspect's motives or the circumstances surrounding the deaths discovered at his home. The investigation remains ongoing.

Read more: Six killed, 15 injured in shooting at Poland's Krakow market square