On the morning of 2026-11-07, a 24‑year‑old man dressed in military fatigues drove a car into Krakow’s Main Square and began firing an AR‑15 rifle at passersby. Witnesses described the suspect as holding far‑right and ultranationalist views. He shot indiscriminately, striking civilians enjoying the Saturday market. According to one account, six people were killed and fifteen others were wounded; another source noted that sixteen people were injured, counting the attacker himself among the wounded. Among those hit were a British national, as well as visitors from Austria, Germany, Portugal and Russia. Several horse‑drawn carriage drivers suffered serious injuries, and two police officers were hurt while confronting the gunman. The shooter was eventually wounded by police fire and taken into custody in critical condition.
Those who were in the square recalled the sudden chaos. Marie-Ange Collaer said, “We literally ran for our lives and managed to hide from the bullets flying around.” Neil Thaxton added, “We had just walked through the main square and heard the gunshots.” Krzysztof Jan Klęczar praised the rapid response of two unidentified young men, observing, “If it weren’t for the efficient and selfless intervention of these two young men, the number of victims could have been significantly higher.” Their testimonies illustrate how quickly ordinary citizens sought shelter while gunfire echoed across the historic piazza.
Poland declares two-day national mourning over Kraków shooting https://t.co/QVNAnWZyTP
The following day, 2026-11-08, Polish authorities made a grim discovery at the suspect’s residence in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, roughly 150 kilometres northeast of Krakow. Inside the home they found the bodies of three individuals: the attacker’s mother, father and sister. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that three more bodies had been recovered and said that much evidence indicated they were members of the assailant’s immediate family. The victims appeared to have suffered gunshot wounds, suggesting a possible familicide before or after the market attack.
The shooter remained in critical condition, receiving medical care under police guard.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk labelled the assault an act of far‑right terrorism and declared two days of national mourning beginning on 2026-11-08. He also noted that the suspect had been inspired by far‑right ideologies, a view echoed by the interior minister. Poland’s defence minister issued critical remarks concerning the security response, while the national prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into a suspected terrorist offense, seizing multiple firearms and ammunition from the suspect’s car and home. As a mark of respect, the traditional St Mary’s Trumpet Call, which has sounded hourly since World War II, was silenced during the mourning period.
I am deeply shocked & saddened by yesterday’s mass shooting, which resulted in the death of six people & the injury of many others in the main square of the city of Krakow in Poland. I strongly condemn this senseless act of violence & express my deepest condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the Government & people of Poland. I wish those injured a full & speedy recovery.
In the days that followed, the nation grappled with the scale of the violence. The shooter remained in critical condition, receiving medical care under police guard. Official tallies varied slightly: some reports cited six fatalities and fifteen wounded, while others counted sixteen injured when including the perpetrator. The distance between Krakow and the family home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski was consistently given as 150 kilometres. Investigators continued to examine the weaponry recovered, the suspect’s background, and any possible links to extremist networks. Across Poland, flags flew at half‑staff, citizens gathered in silent vigils, and leaders urged unity in the face of hatred.
As of the latest updates, the judicial process is underway, with the prosecutor’s office pursuing charges related to murder and terrorism. The suspect’s condition remains critical, and no further details about his motives beyond the stated far‑right and ultranationalist views have been released. The two days of national mourning have concluded, but the impact of the attack lingers in Krakow’s streets and in the broader conversation about extremism in Europe. Authorities have pledged to continue probing the incident, seeking to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Six Killed in Shooting, Poland Declares Two Days of National Mourning #Poland #Krakow #NationalMourning #Shooting #BreakingNews #WorldNews #KarolNawrocki https://t.co/wseIg4XbHd