Poland began two days of national mourning on Sunday after a gunman opened fire in the heart of Kraków’s historic Old Town, killing six people and wounding 15 in one of the rare mass killings in the country’s recent history. Officials have called the attack an act of terror.
Mourners have been leaving candles in the Main Market Square, which was partially closed Sunday morning as investigators continued their work, the Associated Press reported.
What happened
At about 3 p.m. local time Saturday, a man drove onto the Main Market Square and, police said, began firing at random people from his car, Al Jazeera reported. Four women and two men were killed. Police officers shot and wounded the attacker and took him into custody; he was taken to a hospital.
The gunman fired back during the arrest, wounding two officers. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said one of them is in critical condition. Authorities have appealed for blood donations.
Hours later, police found the bodies of the attacker’s father, mother and sister at the family home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski. They likely died of gunshot wounds, bringing the total number of dead to nine, according to the AP.
Who the attacker was
Officials say the gunman, a Polish citizen, acted alone. His age was first reported as 25 and later confirmed as 24. A police spokesman said he wore military-style clothing. Kierwiński said the man held “very radical” and “ultranationalistic” views and was fascinated by far-right ideologies, the AP reported. Poland’s defense minister described the attack as an “act of terror.”
Investigators are examining his background and motives.
Visitors among the victims
Kraków, Poland’s second-largest city, draws about 15 million visitors a year. One of those killed was a British citizen, and five of the wounded were foreigners, from the United Kingdom, Portugal, Russia, Germany and Austria, according to the AP.
Reaction at home and abroad
Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised what he called the “heroic” response of police. President Karol Nawrocki said his thoughts were with the victims and their families and declared national mourning for Nov. 8 and 9. Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said he had received dozens of condolence messages from his counterparts around the world.
U.S. Ambassador Tom Rose called it a “horrific mass shooting” and said America stands with Poland, Al Jazeera reported. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said “Poland does not stand alone,” and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned what he called a “shocking crime.”
Church leaders also called the nation to prayer, with a special Mass planned at St. Mary’s Basilica on the square. Read more in our Faith report on the city’s response.
Context
Deadly shootings are extremely rare in Poland,. The country was already on alert after a series of stabbings in October that Tusk condemned as a “cult of violence.” Poland, a strong supporter of neighboring Ukraine, has also repeatedly warned of Russian sabotage and hybrid attacks on its soil, which Moscow denies. For more on the war next door, see our report on Russian missiles striking Kyiv.
Why it matters for families
Many American families travel to Kraków, often to visit the Old Town or nearby historic sites. If you have loved ones in Poland, check in with them directly. Travelers can enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive safety updates. And if children hear about the attack, keep explanations simple and reassuring: police stopped the attacker, and people across the world are helping.
What to watch next
Watch for updates on the investigation, more details on the victims, and the condition of the wounded officers. Upstormed News will follow this developing story.
Please keep the people of Kraków in your thoughts and prayers. Leave a message of support in the comments.
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Sources: Associated Press via News4JAX, “Poles mourn rare mass killing as authorities say attacker had far-right views” (Nov. 8, 2026); Al Jazeera, “At least six people killed in shooting in Poland’s Krakow main square” (Nov. 7, 2026); NBC News, “Gunman kills 6 in ‘terror attack’ in Krakow, Poland, officials say; 3 others found dead in his home” (Nov. 7, 2026); CBC News, “Polish police say gunman kills 6 in ‘act of terror’; 3 more dead found at suspect’s home” (Nov. 7, 2026).
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