Six people were killed and 15 others wounded after a gunman opened fire from a car in Krakow’s Main Market Square on Saturday, Polish authorities said, before police shot and detained the suspect following an exchange of fire.
Police said the shooting began at about 3 p.m. local time on November 7, when a man drove into the historic square and fired at people apparently at random.
Four women and two men were killed, according to authorities.
Two police officers were among the wounded, with Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński saying one was in critical condition.
The suspect, identified by authorities as a Polish citizen, was wounded by police and taken to hospital.
Police said he acted alone, correcting early reports that suggested a second attacker might be involved.
Katarzyna Cisło, a spokesperson for Krakow police, said the man was wearing military-style clothing and had used a long gun, while additional weapons and ammunition were found in his vehicle.
Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz denied reports that the suspect was a member of the Polish Armed Forces.
He described the shooting as an act of terror, while investigators had not publicly established a motive as of Saturday evening.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said police were examining the background and circumstances of the attack and urged political figures not to exploit the killings.
Krakow authorities declared a period of mourning through November 11 as emergency services and investigators continued work in the city centre.
The Main Market Square, one of Krakow’s best-known public spaces and a major tourist destination, was cordoned off after the shooting.
The attack also prompted precautionary measures elsewhere in Poland.
The Associated Press reported that Warsaw increased security following the shooting, while the BBC reported that Wrocław was tightening security around its own Market Square and convening a security meeting for Sunday.
The confirmed toll represented an increase from earlier official figures that had put the number of dead at five.
Authorities continued to urge the public to rely on verified information as the investigation proceeded.