6 (9) killed and dozen more injured in Krakow shooting

According to Krakow police, the gunman aimed at random people as he drove by the city's Main Square. Among the wounded are police officers.

"At around 3 pm [1400 GMT], a man who had driven into the market square in a car began shooting at random people from inside the vehicle," the police stated on X. 

"The perpetrator was shot by police ‌officers and is currently being ‌transported ​to a hospital," the police added.

Initially, the authorities urged people in the immediate vicinity to evacuate to a safe place.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki says he is "deeply concerned by reports of the tragic events" in Krakow, and that his thoughts are with victims, those injured and their families.

"I remain in contact with the relevant authorities and expect a full explanation of the circumstances surrounding these tragic events," Nawrocki says in a post on X.

"The head of the National Security Bureau is on his way to Krakow. The safety of Poles is an absolute priority!" he adds.

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On 7 November 2026, a mass shooting occurred at the Main Square in Kraków, Poland. A gunman armed with an AR-15–style rifle opened fire from his car as he drove through the Main Square, killing at least six people and injuring more than sixteen others, before being shot and wounded by police during a shootout.

Following the shooting, police discovered the dead bodies of three members of the suspect's family in their apartment in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski. It is the deadliest mass shooting by a single perpetrator in Polish history.

Shooting

On 7 November 2026, around 15:00 CET, a black Subaru with an Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski license plate drove into the Main Square in Kraków. The car entered the square from the direction of Sławkowska Street. The gunman fired into a crowd from the car, with gunshots heard for over a minute. The suspect wore military-style tactical gear and used an AR-15–style rifle during the attack.

A tram driver reported that his vehicle was fired upon by the gunman from his car near the Main Square. The driver's window was shattered, but no injuries were reported onboard the tram. Numerous tram lines were subsequently disrupted.

The suspect drove his car south from the square, along Grodzka Street, at speed whilst pursued by the police.

The suspect was arrested about 1 km (0.62 mi) south of the square.

During the arrest, he exchanged fire with police officers, injuring two of them; one of the wounded officers fired back, incapacitating the suspect and ending the attack.

Victims

At the square, four women and two men were killed, among them a British tourist. Over fifteen people were injured, including two police officers and some foreign nationals.

 The police denied initial reports that an officer was killed in the attack. Animal rights group OTOZ Animals said that the attacker also shot two horses, one of which was hit in the leg.

Three bodies were later found at the shooter's apartment in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski. They were the perpetrator's father, mother, and sister.

Perpetrator

The suspected gunman is a 24-year-old male Polish citizen, Michał O. from Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski. He was shot and wounded by police during his arrest, and was wearing military-style fatigues, a bullet-resistant vest and had multiple military weapons in his car.

Investigation

The gunman is in custody and is currently recovering. He was taken to a hospital in police custody and was not immediately identified. Police said they were not looking for other suspects. Police secured a weapon and ammunition. The square was blocked off by the police.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that police were investigating "the background and all the circumstances of the attack". Minister of the Interior Marcin Kierwiński set out for Kraków, Kierwiński said everything indicates the suspect was inspired by "far-right ideologies" and held "very radical views".

Afterwards 

Counter-claims, based on screenshots and descriptions of now-deleted social media profiles (primarily Facebook) attributed to him, portray left-wing or radical-left associations. These include:

• Posing with LGBT/Pride imagery (e.g., a Pride flag with gas mask and beret).
• Mockery of Christianity, the Catholic Church, and Pope John Paul II.
• Pro-communist or pro-red references (one caption noted a photo “bathed in the red light of communism—simply delightful”; joking about “subliminal messages”).
• Alleged attendance at 2020 pro-abortion protests (All-Poland Women’s Strike).
• Descriptions by some as an antifascist, anarcho-communist, or left-wing activist.
• Other elements such as anime/manga interest, nail painting, alternative dress, and a Ukrainian flag patch on tactical gear in some photos.

Accounts of school acquaintances described him as withdrawn, interested in violence/military themes (including drawings of attacks), and dressing unusually. He worked as a machinist/turner, held a sports firearms permit, and was not a soldier. He is also suspected of killing his parents and sister at the family home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski before driving to Kraków.

The material is inconsistent overall (some mentions of possible Falanga-related or nationalist imagery appear alongside the left-leaning content). Profiles were deleted quickly after identification, leading to questions about who controlled them. Polish authorities have emphasized the investigation is ongoing, he appears to have acted alone, and political speculation should be avoided pending evidence. The case remains under active probe by police and security services as of the latest available reports.