On Saturday afternoon a man drove into Krakow’s Main Market Square and opened fire on random passersby, killing six people and wounding 16, including two police officers. Police shot and detained the suspect, who died in hospital early on Monday.
Investigation Finds Four Firearms and About 500 Rounds of Ammunition
Investigators seized four firearms and roughly 500 rounds of ammunition from the suspect and his vehicle, according to a spokesperson for the National Prosecutor’s Office, Przemyslaw Nowak. The armament included two AR‑15 rifles and two pistols, all of which were loaded with the recovered ammunition.
The seized weapons were accompanied by a large number of spent cartridge cases, indicating that the shooting involved dozens of shots and possibly hundreds of rounds fired during the incident. Police and prosecutors will determine the exact number of shots after completing an analysis of the evidence collected over the weekend.
The gunman’s attack shook Krakow’s historic center, where the Main Market Square is a popular gathering place for locals and tourists. The event has left the city’s residents and visitors stunned, as the tragedy unfolded in a crowded public space.
Additional weapons were located at the suspect’s family home, raising questions about how the firearms were stored and used. While four guns were found in the car, prosecutors say a total of 11 weapons were recovered in the broader investigation.
Poland’s Press and Armed Forces sources report that the suspect was shot by police during the attempt to detain him. The police officers who were injured were treated at the same hospital where the gunman later died. The incident was described by officials as a “random shooting” carried out by an individual with no known criminal record.
Officials have stated that the shooting occurred on Saturday afternoon, and by evening they confirmed that six people had lost their lives and 16 others were injured. The later death of the gunman has been confirmed by local law‑enforcement. The National Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson, Przemyslaw Nowak, stated that the recovered ammunition could have been used for further shooting if the suspect had not been stopped in time.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are still examining evidence to determine the complete scope of the weapons cache and the numbers of rounds fired. Krakow authorities have announced increased security measures for the Main Market Square in the days following the incident.