Gunman opens fire from car in Krakow market square, killing at least five
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The gist
A man drove into Krakow's Main Market Square and opened fire from his car, killing at least five.
The attack hit Poland's historic old town, and casualty figures shifted as police responded.
Background
Krakow is Poland's second-largest city, roughly 155 miles from the capital Warsaw, and the shooting took place in its historic old town district. Polish police said the alleged shooter began firing at random people from his car; a Malopolska regional police spokeswoman told broadcaster TVN24 the shooter appeared to be acting alone and was dressed in military gear. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he was being kept informed by the interior minister and that police were investigating the background and circumstances.
How it unfolded
- Nov 7, 2026Around 3 p.m. local time on Saturday, a man drove into an open market in Krakow's Main Market Square and opened fire from his car, police said.
- Nov 7, 2026The alleged shooter was shot and wounded in a confrontation with police and taken to a hospital; police officers were among the wounded.
- Nov 7, 2026Casualty reports varied through the day: initial Polish media said at least three dead, TVN24 citing the fire brigade reported two dead and at least 10 injured, and later police accounts put the toll at least five dead with about a dozen injured.
Key terms
- Malopolska
- A voivodeship, or province, in southern Poland whose capital and largest city is Kraków.
- TVN24
- A Polish commercial 24-hour news television channel launched in 2001.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he was being kept informed by the interior minister and that police are investigating the background and all circumstances of the attack.
- Police
- A Malopolska regional police spokeswoman told TVN24 the alleged perpetrator was wounded in an exchange of gunfire with police and appeared to be acting alone, dressed in military gear.
Still unverified
Casualty figures varied in early reporting: at least five dead and about a dozen injured (CBS News, Bloomberg, Reuters); two killed and at least 10 injured per TVN24 citing the fire brigade; at least three killed and 10 injured per Polish police (Jerusalem Post); and at least three killed per initial Polish media reports.