Krakow shooting latest: two women and a man found dead at gunman’s home after six killed in Main Market Square, including a Briton

Last updated: Sunday 8 November 2026, 12.50am UK time

Six people have been killed and 15 injured after a gunman opened fire from a car in and around the Main Market Square (Rynek Główny) in Kraków (Krakow), Poland, on Saturday afternoon. It is one of the deadliest attacks in Poland in decades.

The attack began at around 3pm local time (2pm UK time). Police say a man drove into the historic square – packed with tourists and locals on a Saturday afternoon – and fired at random people. He was shot by a police officer and detained nearby, and is now in hospital under guard.

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Overnight: three bodies found in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski (midnight UK)

Police have found the bodies of three people in the block of flats in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski where the suspect lived. Police say they are most likely his parents and sister, but formal confirmation will come only when the investigation at the scene is finished.

Bomb disposal experts found no explosives in the gunman’s car, although ammunition had been found in it earlier. Six people remain confirmed dead in Kraków and 16 are in hospital, including the two injured police officers and the suspect. Prime Minister Donald Tusk paid tribute to the two seriously injured officers, saying they “probably saved many lives”.

Two days of national mourning began in Poland at midnight, after the president signed the order for Sunday 8 and Monday 9 November. Free, anonymous Polish helplines are available on 116 123 for adults and 116 111 for children and young people.

Prosecutors confirm suspect (10pm UK)

Prosecutors’ spokesman Tomasz Waszczuk has confirmed that the man detained is 24-year-old Michał O., according to Polish media. Prosecutors are investigating together with Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW) and are examining both ideological and personal motives. They have not yet established where he got his weapons.

No charges have been announced yet. Whether and when he can be questioned depends on his condition in hospital. The bodies found at his home are reported to be his parents and sister, but this has not been officially confirmed.

Update: two women and a man found dead at the gunman’s home (10.15pm UK)

Prime Minister Donald Tusk has confirmed that two women and a man were found dead at the suspect’s home. “There are probably dead people in the attacker’s home,” he said earlier, as police and counter-terrorism officers searched the property. They are believed to be his closest family members.

Among the six people killed in Kraków were three Polish women and a British citizen, according to the latest police information reported by Radio Kraków. Two victims have not yet been identified. Portugal’s foreign ministry has confirmed that a Portuguese woman is among the injured.

Both injured police officers are in a serious condition after surgery. Thirty police crews were sent to the scene. Polish media report that five of Kraków’s horse-drawn carriage drivers, who work on the Main Market Square, are among the injured. The UK Foreign Office has not yet commented on the reported British victim. National mourning has been declared in Poland for Sunday 8 and Monday 9 November.

Update: three more people found dead at the gunman’s home (9pm UK)

Three more people have been found dead at the suspect’s home in the Świętokrzyskie region, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said, citing drone footage from the police operation. They are believed to be close relatives of the attacker. If confirmed, the total number of people killed would rise to nine.

Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the situation is under control, asked people near the police operation to stay indoors, and urged the media not to publish footage of the ongoing operation.

Polish media report that the national police chief said one of the six people killed in Kraków was a British citizen, but this has not yet been officially confirmed by Polish authorities or the UK Foreign Office.

British citizen reported among the dead (9pm UK)

A British citizen is among the six people killed in the Kraków attack, Poland’s national police chief Marek Boroń has said, according to Wirtualna Polska. Two of the victims were Polish women. The Foreign Office has not yet commented, and the victim has not been named.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk, speaking in Kraków after a meeting with the security services, called it terrorism: “Until now, we have not had such drastic cases of terrorism in Poland.” He said officers were entering the attacker’s home, that his car posed no explosive threat, and that he expected “any possible supporters of the attacker” to be detained very quickly. He thanked police officers who “saved many lives while risking death themselves”.

If you are worried about a British national in Kraków, call the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office on 020 7008 5000 (24 hours).

Video: CCTV shows the moment the gunman opened fire (8.50pm UK)

CCTV footage from a street on the edge of the Old Town shows a dark car pulling up as people walk past, and the moment the gunman opens fire on the public. People can be seen running for cover, and at least one person falls to the ground. The car then drives off towards the Main Market Square.

Warning: some viewers may find this footage distressing.

▶ Watch the CCTV footage on Energy Radio’s X account

Who is the suspect? (8.45pm UK)

Polish media, citing unofficial police and ministry sources, identify the suspect as Michał O., a 24-year-old lathe operator from Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski in south-central Poland. Under Polish law, suspects are usually identified only by their first name and the initial of their surname.

According to Wirtualna Polska, he held a permit for sporting firearms, had two guns registered in his name and trained at a shooting club in nearby Starachowice. Further weapons and a large amount of ammunition were reportedly found in his car. He is said to be seriously injured but in a stable condition in hospital.

Prosecutors have not yet confirmed which weapon was used, whether it was legally held, or what charges he will face. The interior minister says everything points to him acting alone and holding “very radical views”, but no motive has been officially given.

Latest: five foreigners among the injured (8pm UK)

Four of the six people killed have now been identified, and one of them is a foreign national, Poland’s interior minister said. Five of the 15 injured are foreigners. Their nationalities have not been released. If you are worried about a British national, call the Foreign Office on 020 7008 5000.

Police say the gunman used an AR-15-style rifle in 5.56mm calibre. Bomb disposal officers are checking his car at the junction of Dietla and Stradomska streets, and residents of nearby buildings are being evacuated. The Main Market Square and surrounding streets remain closed.

Kraków’s deputy mayor Jan Hoffman said the seriously injured police officer’s prognosis is good. Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with photos or video from the scene to come forward.

Update: “He acted alone and had very radical views” (7.35pm UK)

Poland’s Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński has told a press conference in Kraków that everything indicates the gunman acted alone and held “very radical views”. His home is being searched. Kierwiński said police fired their first shots at the attacker within three minutes of the first call, and that their “lightning-fast reaction prevented a much bigger massacre”. Fire and ambulance crews were also on the scene within three minutes.

Polish police sources have named the suspect unofficially as Michał O., 24, from Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski in central Poland. He reportedly held a firearms permit and had no criminal record. The defence minister has confirmed he never served in the Polish Armed Forces.

Poland’s president has begun the formal process to declare national mourning on Sunday 8 and Monday 9 November. Every football match in Poland this weekend will open with a minute’s silence. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany “stands with Poland”.

Update (7pm UK time)

Poland’s defence minister has said the attacker is not and never was a soldier in the Polish Armed Forces, contradicting earlier media reports. Małopolska Police have also rejected claims of a slow response, saying the first patrol began dealing with the attacker 23 seconds after the first call.

The UK Ambassador to Poland, Melinda Simmons, has expressed Britain’s solidarity with Kraków, alongside the US ambassador and EU leaders Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, who thanked the “heroic police officers” who risked their lives.

Kraków has opened a 24-hour psychological support line through its Crisis Intervention Centre on +48 12 421 92 82, with in-person help at Radziwiłłowska 8b. Theatres, cinemas and the Kraków Philharmonic have cancelled tonight’s performances, and Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś will celebrate a special Mass for the victims at St Mary’s Basilica at 4pm local time (3pm UK) on Sunday.

Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński has now held a press conference in Kraków – see the latest update above.

Earlier update (6pm UK time)

The death toll rose to six after another victim died in hospital, police said. Regional governor Krzysztof Klęczar said 15 people are being treated in Kraków hospitals, including at the University Hospital, the Rydygier hospital and the military hospital. Polish media report that a foreign Erasmus student is among the injured.

Police have denied social media rumours that a police officer was killed and that a second attacker was on the run. “The only known perpetrator is in police hands,” Małopolska Police said. The Interior Ministry has confirmed the suspect is a Polish citizen. Polish media report that the car he drove was registered to his father, who legally owns several firearms – this has not been officially confirmed.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk is travelling to Kraków, where ministers and the heads of the security services will meet tonight. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński, national police chief Marek Boroń and the head of the National Security Bureau are also in the city. St Mary’s Basilica has been closed, the square and nearby streets are cordoned off, and trams are being diverted around the Old Town.

Video: people run for cover

Footage filmed in the Old Town as the shots rang out shows people running along the street and sheltering inside a doorway. Moments later a police car arrives.

▶ Watch the video on Energy Radio’s X account

Video: the moment the gunman was stopped

Footage from the scene shows a police officer confronting the attacker, who was dressed in military-style clothing, and detaining him on the street after shooting him. No victims are shown, but some viewers may find it distressing.

▶ Watch the video on Energy Radio’s X account

What Poland’s leaders have said

Donald Tusk said he was being kept informed by the interior minister and that police were investigating “the background and all the circumstances of the attack”.

President Karol Nawrocki said his thoughts were with the victims and their families, and that “the safety of Poles is an absolute priority”.

Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz offered condolences to the families and promised the motives would be thoroughly examined. Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek wrote: “The state is working,” and said the attacker would face the full force of the law.

Krakow shooting: your questions answered

What happened in Krakow today?

On Saturday 7 November 2026, at around 3pm local time, a gunman drove into Kraków’s Main Market Square (Rynek Główny) and opened fire at random people from his car. He was shot by a police officer and detained.

How many people died in the Krakow shooting?

Six people were killed – four women and two men – and 15 were injured, 12 of them seriously, according to Polish police and the regional governor. Poland’s police chief has said one of the dead is a British citizen.

Who is the Krakow gunman?

The Interior Ministry has confirmed he is a Polish citizen. Police sources have named him unofficially as Michał O., 24, from Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski. He held a gun permit and had no criminal record. The interior minister says he acted alone and held very radical views.

Is it safe to travel to Krakow?

Police say the only known attacker is in custody. The Main Market Square and nearby streets are cordoned off and St Mary’s Basilica is closed. Check the UK Foreign Office travel advice for Poland before you travel and follow instructions from local police.

How can I check on someone in Krakow?

If you are worried about a British national, call the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office on 020 7008 5000. Polish citizens in the UK can contact the Embassy of Poland in London.

Why this matters to London

London is home to one of the biggest Polish communities outside Poland, and Kraków is one of the most popular city breaks for Londoners, with direct flights from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton. Many of our listeners will have family and friends in the city this weekend.

If you are worried about a British national in Kraków, contact the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office on 020 7008 5000. Polish citizens in the UK can contact the Embassy of Poland in London. Please follow official updates from Polish police and avoid sharing unverified videos or rumours from the scene.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more is confirmed.