At least six people are killed and several others injured after a gunman opens fire in Krakow's Main Market Square in Poland, in what Polish officials are treating as a mass shooting that began shortly before 15:00 local time.
The attack begins as the man drives into the square and fires at random people from his car, according to police. Footage from the scene shows crowds fleeing in panic as gunfire is heard. Armed officers race to the scene and engage the attacker in a gunfight. The gunman is shot, remains alive and is arrested. Distressing footage verified by BBC Verify shows an officer confronting the suspect on the ground before firing several times, before the officer himself falls, apparently injured. City officials urge residents and tourists to stay away from the area while the investigation continues.
Deaths and injuries
Six people, four women and two men, are confirmed to have died. Around a dozen people are injured, including two police officers shot while detaining the attacker. One officer is described by a Polish government minister as being in a very critical condition after being shot three times during the arrest and is undergoing surgery. Authorities have not confirmed the names or ages of the other victims.
Suspect and motive
Police confirm the attacker is a male Polish citizen and say he was wearing military-style attire and had a military-grade weapon. Nothing has been publicly confirmed about motive and no further details on identity have been released. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is travelling to Krakow and is expected to address the public later on Saturday. He says he is being kept informed by the interior minister and that police are investigating the background and all the circumstances. President Karol Nawrocki says he is deeply concerned and is awaiting a full explanation. The US ambassador to Poland, Tom Rose, describes the attack as a savage and murderous assault.
Why it matters
The shooting in the centre of one of Poland's best-known and most visited historic squares is one of the deadliest attacks in recent Polish history. For British readers it is a reminder of how quickly a public space can become a scene of violence, and of the risks faced by armed police who must close distance to detain an attacker. It also raises questions about how a military-grade weapon was obtained and whether there were warning signs before Saturday.
What happens next
Police have secured the square and a full investigation is under way into the circumstances, the weapon and any possible motive. Prime Minister Tusk is expected to give an address later on Saturday, and further updates on the injured officers and victims are expected. The suspect remains in custody and is likely to face detailed questioning as investigators seek to establish how the attack was planned.
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