At least five people killed in shooting in Poland’s Krakow

Five people have been killed and others wounded in a shooting near the main ‌‌market square of Krakow in southern Poland.

At around 3pm (14:00GMT) on Saturday, a man who had driven onto the city’s Main Market Square “began firing at random people from his car”, police said on X.

“As a result of the incident, five people were killed and around a dozen others were wounded,” a police spokesman told the AFP news agency.

The gunman was shot by officers and detained, police said. He was transported to hospital after sustaining injuries.

Police officers were also among the wounded.

“According ⁠to information from police officers, the man was wearing military-style attire,” a police spokesperson told reporters.

“During the arrest, ⁠officers used their weapons, but the man returned fire; ⁠as a result, two ⁠police officers are among the injured,” he added.

A “tragic shooting” took place on Saturday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in a post on X.

“I am being kept informed by the Minister of the Interior about the situation in Krakow,” he wrote, adding that “the police are investigating the background and all the circumstances of the attack”.

President Karol Nawrocki said his thoughts were with the victims, those affected, ‌and ‌their families.

Tom Rose, the US ambassador to Poland, wrote on X: “We are just learning details of the horrific mass shooting in Krakow, a savage and murderous attack that’s shattered the peace of Poland.”

He said “America stands with Poland at this dark hour” as Poland stands with the citizens of Krakow.

Krakow is the second-largest city in Poland and about 250 kilometres (155 miles) south of the capital, Warsaw.