On Nov. 7 2026, police in Krakow’s Main Market Square responded to shots fired that were said to have been opened by a driver armed with a long‑barrelled firearm. The attack left the city’s historic center in a state of emergency. Bulgarian officials, through the embassy in Warsaw, confirmed that no Bulgarians were among the injured, a fact reported by the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) on the same day.
BTA noted that “the attack has left six people dead and 15 injured, according to Polish media and international news agencies.” The Bulgarian embassy stated that the consular office was in “constant contact with local authorities, was monitoring developments and stood ready to provide consular assistance if necessary.” The assailant was in a confrontation with police, was injured, and taken to hospital after the shooting.
While BTA reports six fatalities, the German‑language broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) filmed the scene and released a video excerpt stating that “Polish police say six people have been killed in a mass shooting near the main square of Krakow, and at least a dozen more people were injured.” However, a subsequent DW news summary lists only five confirmed deaths, describing the incident as “At least five people were killed and more than a dozen injured.” The discrepancy in fatality counts reflects the fast‑moving nature of information in the immediate aftermath of chaotic events.
According to an earlier DW map of the incident, the attack took place at the heart of the trade centre. The assailant drove a vehicle into the square before launching an indiscriminate volley at passers‑by. The timing of the assault coincided with a local market crowding typical of the nightly tourist influx. Police quotes in the DW piece describe the assailant as “injured in a confrontation with police” and note that he was quickly contained.
The U.S. Embassy in Poland issued a security alert early in the incident that urged residents and visitors to avoid the area “at this time.” Although the alert was subsequently taken down, it indicated that the U.S. government, like other foreign missions, was monitoring the event. The embassy’s statement stressed that it would continue to provide updates depending on the evolving situation.
From an investigative perspective, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) analysis—though still in draft form—questions the gunman’s motive and the potential presence of other foreign nationals among the dead and wounded. FIDH notes that the region has seen sporadic targeting of tourists in the past, but specific ties to diplomatic communities remain speculative at this stage.
The Polish police spokesperson highlighted that the assailant was captured within minutes of the attack and that standard protocols were followed during the arrest. The spokesperson added that “the suspect was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries,” aligning with the account given in the BTA report.
In the days following the shooting, the Bulgarian Embassy released another brief update, reaffirming that no Bulgarian citizens had been injured and that they had been alerted on the situation from local media. Embassy staff reiterated that they were “ready to provide consular assistance if necessary,” a standard diplomatic response in such situations.
World press outlets emphasised that the shooting “shook the city’s historic core” and called for a thorough investigation. The city’s mayor at the time, Marek Jankowski, said that “the city’s citizens should stay calm and cooperate with emergency services.” The mayor’s office also praised traffic police for redirecting commuters away from the site.
Polish security agencies have requested cooperation from neighboring countries to monitor the suspect’s background. In particular, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs acknowledged that “authors of the incident will be scrutinised for potential links to larger criminal networks but no link to any foreign nationals has been established.” Observers are watching whether the next days will bring clarity on the motive behind the shooting, the precise number of victims, and whether Bulgarian or other nationals suffered any harm.
