KRAKOW (Azat TV) – A mass drive-by shooting in the heart of Krakow left six people dead and over a dozen wounded on Saturday, Nov. 7, shocking a nation that has historically viewed itself as insulated from such large-scale public violence. HuffPost reported that a 24-year-old Polish citizen wearing military-style clothing and operating from a vehicle opened fire randomly in the historic Main Market Square. Police officers shot and apprehended the suspect within minutes of the initial emergency calls, averting an even higher casualty toll in the country’s second-largest city.
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski stated that preliminary findings indicate the gunman was influenced by far-right ideology, an angle now central to an active probe by the Internal Security Agency. The attack targeted a densely populated tourist and commercial hub, leaving four women and two men dead, while 16 others sustained injuries requiring hospitalization, including five foreign nationals. Polish authorities confirmed that one of the fatalities was a British citizen, and foreign ministries abroad, including Portugal, reported citizens among the wounded.
Weapons, Vehicle Recovery, and Quick Police Response
According to NBC Miami, local police spokesperson Katarzyna Cislo confirmed that the assailant utilized a military-type long gun—identified by private broadcaster TVN 24 as an AR-15 rifle—along with ammunition found stored in his vehicle. Footage from the scene captured chaotic moments as bystanders fled across blood-spattered paving stones and sought shelter inside cafes and restaurants lining the square.
Witnesses described a dark sedan appearing suddenly as shots rang out from the driver’s side window. Konrad, a witness interviewed by Interia, recounted rushing into a nearby police station that was already crowded with civilians taking cover on the floor. Interior Minister Kierwinski praised law enforcement officers for their rapid intervention, noting that police engaged the shooter just three minutes after receiving the first emergency reports.
National Mourning and International Condolences
In response to the tragedy, President Karol Nawrocki announced a period of national mourning across Poland for November 8 and 9, with municipal officials extending mourning protocols in Krakow through November 11. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that security services are working to establish the full sequence of events and investigate any potential accomplices or wider networks linked to the suspect.
Condolences and expressions of shock poured in from international leaders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the attack on social media, extending sympathies to the victims’ families. European foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the shooting as a profound tragedy that will resonate far beyond Poland’s borders, highlighting growing European concerns regarding domestic security and extremist threats.