Six Killed as Gunman Opens Fire in Krakow's Main Market Square

Six people have been killed and at least 15 wounded after a gunman opened fire in the busy Main Market Square in Krakow, Poland's second-largest city, on Saturday afternoon.

Police said the attacker, a 25-year-old Polish man, drove onto the square shortly before 3 pm local time and began firing at random from his car. The square, one of Europe's largest medieval market squares, was crowded with tourists and shoppers at the time. Witnesses said people ran for cover as shots rang out across the square.

Armed police reached the scene within minutes and exchanged fire with the gunman. Officers shot and detained him within about three minutes of the first reports, police said. The attacker was wounded and taken to hospital for treatment.

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Four women and two men were killed in the square. Three of the dead were Polish citizens and one was a British citizen, officials said. The other two victims have not yet been identified.

At least 15 people were taken to hospital with injuries, including five foreign nationals, two police officers and the attacker himself. One of the wounded officers was shot three times and is in a critical condition. The injured foreign nationals are from Austria, Britain, Germany, Portugal and Russia, officials said.

A public bus was also hit in the shooting, its windows shattered, though no passengers were hurt. Shop windows around the square were broken and glass was scattered across the street. The city administration has urged residents and visitors to stay away from the area.

In a separate development, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said police searching the attacker's home, about 200 kilometres from Krakow, found three more bodies, two women and a man. Tusk said they were most likely close members of the attacker's family, though officials have not yet confirmed how they died.

Police said the gunman was wearing military-style clothing and carrying a military-grade weapon, but confirmed he was not a soldier. A large number of weapons and ammunition were recovered from his car. Polish media reported he held a gun licence.

A minister said early inquiries suggested the attacker had been influenced by far-right extremist ideas, and described him as an extreme nationalist. Poland's defence minister called the attack an act of terror. The motive has not yet been fully established. A period of mourning has been declared in Krakow until 11 November.