At least six people have lost their lives and more than a dozen have been injured by the shots fired by an individual who opened fire indiscriminately from a car in the heart of the Polish city of Krakow.
"Update. One of the people injured in the Main Market Square incident in Krakow has died. So far, six people have died, four women and two men", the Police said in a statement.
At first, it had been reported that five people had died and that the alleged perpetrator had been hit by the shots from Police agents and subsequently taken to a hospital. "Emergency services are working at the scene", the Police added in an earlier statement.
The incident began at about 15:00, when a man arrived by car at the Market Square and started shooting without distinguishing targets. "The person responsible has been detained. There are injuries, including Police officers", the Police said at first.
The attacker responded with fire at the agents before being subdued and arrested. "The person responsible for the incident at Krakow's Main Market Square is a citizen of the Republic of Poland", the Police explained, noting that he was wearing military camouflage clothing and carrying a military rifle, which had been seized in the vehicle along with a large amount of ammunition and other weapons.
The City Hall of Krakow has asked the public "not to approach the area where the Police and emergency services are working". The city's mayor, Lukasz Gibala, has declared an official period of mourning until November 11.
Interior Minister Waldemar Zurek has confirmed that there are two injured police officers, one of them in a very serious condition and undergoing surgery after receiving three gunshot hits. He has also denounced the "enormous tragedy" of the Market Square. "My heart is with the families and loved ones of the victims of this unimaginable tragedy", he said.
Zurek has reaffirmed that the alleged perpetrator is injured and remains in custody. "Prosecutors, police and all services are already on the scene collecting evidence and investigating the circumstances of the attack. The State is functioning. We ask for calm and not to hinder the work of the emergency services. The person responsible for this crime will be taken to justice", he added.
For his part, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has indicated on social media that he is closely following the developments of the events after the “tragic shooting.” “The Police are investigating the background and all the circumstances of the attack,” he explained.
From the opposition, the leader of the Law and Justice Party (PiS), Jaroslaw Kaczynski, has expressed his “most sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.” “This is an unimaginable tragedy. The person responsible for this crime has to be held accountable and the circumstances of the attack must be thoroughly clarified,” he said. “The security of citizens is fundamental. This tragedy should never have happened,” he added.