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Krakow, Poland — Police Kill Gunman After Market Square Attack Kills 6

A police officer walks up to a man lying on the pavement in Krakow's Main Square, kneels beside him and fires six shots at close range as sirens wail nearby, according to footage of Saturday's shooting described in a report by New York Post reporter Gabrielle Fahmy. The officer then rolls onto his side and back, the video shows, before the suspect is taken into custody.
Six people were killed and at least 15 others were wounded when a masked, 24-year-old Polish citizen opened fire from a moving vehicle as he drove through the square Saturday afternoon, the New York Post reported. Police have not publicly named the suspect, but according to the Post's account, he had already killed his parents and sister at home before driving into the city center.
What happened in Krakow's Main Square?
The attacker drove a dark vehicle through the square and began firing randomly as he moved through the crowd, the Post reported, citing police accounts of the attack. The shooting left six dead and wounded at least 15 people before the gunman was confronted and shot by a police officer at the scene.
Who is the suspect, and what happened before the shooting?
Police have identified the attacker only as a 24-year-old Polish citizen who was masked during the shooting, according to the Post. Before driving into the square, he is alleged to have killed his parents and his sister at their home, the outlet reported. The suspect was taken into custody after the shootout and remains hospitalized, police said.
How did police stop the gunman?
Footage of the confrontation shows an officer approaching the suspect, who was already on the ground, and firing six shots at him from close range as sirens sound in the background, the Post reported. The officer is then seen kneeling beside the suspect and appearing to remove weapons before rolling onto his side and back.
What have Polish officials said about the response?
"Police officers confronted an armed attacker. They did not hesitate, even though they themselves were in mortal danger," Polska Police wrote on X, according to the Post. "This is what police service is all about. Courage, responsibility and a willingness to act even when your own life is at stake."
Poland's prime minister identified the officers involved as Senior Constable Jakub Kulik and Senior Constable Artur Morański, calling them "true heroes," the Post reported.
By the numbers
- 6 people killed in the square attack
- 15 or more people wounded
- 24 years old — the suspect's age
- 6 shots fired by the responding officer
What to watch
- Whether police release the suspect's name and formal charges once he is discharged from the hospital
- Additional details on the killings of the suspect's parents and sister at the family home
- Any further statements from Polish officials on the officers' conduct during the confrontation
- Updates on the condition of the 15 or more people wounded in the square
The full video, which shows graphic violence, was shared publicly by Sky News and referenced in the New York Post's report.
Questions
How many people were killed in the Krakow shooting?
Six people were killed and at least 15 others were wounded when a gunman opened fire in Krakow's Main Square on Saturday, according to the New York Post.
Who stopped the Krakow gunman?
A police officer confronted the suspect and fired six shots at him after he opened fire in the square, Polish police said in a statement on X.