Update — Sunday, 8 November 2026. Poland is observing national mourning a day after a lone gunman opened fire on Kraków’s Main Market Square. Six people are dead. Sixteen were wounded, including two police officers who stopped the attack. Prosecutors are treating the square shooting as a terrorist offence and have linked it to three further killings at the suspect’s home.

What happened

On Saturday, 7 November, shortly after 15:00 local time, a masked 24-year-old Polish man drove at speed onto the Rynek Główny — Kraków’s Main Market Square — and fired at people in the crowded tourist centre. City officials say the first shots were reported near ul. Sławkowska. Kraków’s tram operator said a Line 1 tram at Plac Wszystkich Świętych was also hit; the driver’s cabin window shattered, but no passengers or the driver were hurt.

Police say officers reached the scene within about three minutes of the first call. After an exchange of fire, the attacker was shot and detained near the Dietla / Stradomska intersection. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński credited the fast response by police, firefighters and paramedics with limiting further casualties. More than 1,100 officers and two dozen fire units were later deployed.

Victims and the wounded — Sunday afternoon tally

Małopolska province governor Krzysztof Klęczar confirmed on Sunday afternoon that the death toll had not risen further:

  • Six killed on the square: three Polish women, one Polish man, one British man, and a 51-year-old Austrian woman identified later on Sunday.
  • Sixteen wounded, including two police officers and the alleged shooter. Of those sixteen, fourteen were described as stable; one victim remained in serious condition (a police officer hurt during the arrest); the suspect was in critical condition after several operations.
  • Among the wounded earlier listed by provincial officials: 11 Poles and five foreigners (reports have cited nationals of Britain, Portugal, Russia, Germany and Austria among the injured).

By Sunday morning, Małopolska police said two of the wounded had already been discharged. Both officers who confronted the gunman had undergone surgery and been brought out of induced coma; one was later described as stable, the other as serious but stable.

Who is the suspect?

Polish police identify the attacker as a 24-year-old Polish citizen from Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski (Świętokrzyskie province). He had no prior criminal record, held a firearms licence, and was wearing military-style clothing and a bulletproof vest when he drove onto the square. He remains hospitalised in critical condition. Prosecutors said that if he survives, they expect to decide on next procedural steps involving him on Monday.

Three further deaths at the family home

After the Kraków attack, officers searching the suspect’s home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski found three bodies — his father (53), mother (52) and sister (21). Injuries were provisionally assessed as gunshot wounds. The National Prosecutor’s Office says evidence indicates the same person is responsible for both the square attack and the Ostrowiec killings, and has folded both into one investigation. Polish media also reported notes and multiple firearms recovered during searches.

Terrorism probe and motive

On Sunday the National Prosecutor’s Office announced an investigation into the murder of six people with a firearm and attempted murder of many others, including police officers, describing the Kraków attack as a terrorist offence. Officials have said the attacker held far-right views; they have not publicly confirmed membership in any organised extremist group. Motive details remain under investigation.

Mourning and the city response

Poland declared two days of national mourning. Kraków Mayor Łukasz Gibała ordered city mourning from Sunday 8 November through Wednesday 11 November, with flags at half-mast or draped in black on municipal buildings and public transport. A crisis staff met at City Hall on Saturday. Police continue to ask witnesses to come forward at the nearest station. Tram traffic at the Dietla / Krakowska / Stradomska junction has been restored.

What to watch next

  • Monday decisions by prosecutors if the suspect can take part in investigative steps.
  • Further identification and condition updates for the wounded.
  • Results from forensic work at both crime scenes and analysis of material seized at the Ostrowiec address.

On the map

This report is pinned at Kraków’s Main Market Square for News near me. See other Poland stories on the Poland place desk.

More from the World desk

Figures above reflect official and wire updates available Sunday, 8 November 2026. Counts can still change as hospitals and prosecutors revise tallies.

Sources

Reporting compiled from:

  1. PAP — Sixth victim identified as Austrian citizen; wounded update
  2. PAP — Prosecutors probe Kraków shooting and Ostrowiec killings as terrorism case
  3. AP — What to know about the Kraków shooting that killed 6 people
  4. The Guardian — Polish prosecutors open terrorism investigation
  5. City of Kraków — Official communiqué on the Main Square shooting
  6. Euronews Poland — Everything known so far about the Market Square attack
  7. Onet — Live updates: notes secured at attacker’s home; mourning underway