British Citizen Among Six Killed In Mass Shooting In Krakow, Poland

A British citizen is among six people killed in a mass shooting in the Polish city of Krakow, where a gunman opened fire on people in a busy tourist area, according to police.

The attack took place at approximately 3pm local time on Saturday in the city's main market square, a popular destination for international visitors. Witnesses described scenes of panic as people fled for safety, with some seeking shelter inside nearby cafes and restaurants.

The suspect, who was dressed in military-style clothing and wearing a bulletproof vest, allegedly fired indiscriminately from a black car. Police later confirmed that four women and two men had died, including three Polish nationals, a British citizen and two people whose identities had yet to be established.

British National Confirmed Among Krakow Shooting Victims

Polish police commander-in-chief Marek Boron confirmed the death toll during a press briefing on Saturday evening.

"There are six fatalities, four women and two men - three Polish persons, one citizen of Great Britain and two persons who are not yet identified," Mr Boron told reporters.

He also provided information about those injured in the shooting, confirming that 16 people had been wounded, including two police officers and several foreign nationals.

"11 of those are Polish citizens, five citizens of foreign countries," he said.

There has been no further update on the condition of the injured victims.

The suspect, aged 25, was described as being in a "stable but very critical" condition following the shooting. A police officer who sustained serious injuries was also reported to be stable after undergoing surgery.

Police Shoot Suspect As Footage Shows Krakow Attack

Footage circulating after the incident showed a police officer firing multiple shots at the attacker from close range before slowly collapsing himself.

Other videos from the scene showed blood on the ground, with bystanders attempting to perform CPR on two victims. A third person appeared to be lying motionless nearby.

Polish authorities said police arrived and confronted the gunman within minutes of receiving the initial report.

Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said investigators believed the suspect had been influenced by far-right ideology and held "ultra-nationalistic" views.

"The police prevented a ⁠much larger massacre that could have otherwise occurred. They fired shots at the attacker just three minutes after ​receiving the report," the minister said.

Weapons And Ammunition Discovered In Suspect's Car

Police confirmed that additional weapons and ammunition were recovered from the black car allegedly used by the attacker.

Authorities also searched the suspect's home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, approximately 160km north-east of Krakow, after concerns that the property could contain a substantial weapons collection.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said investigators suspected there was "a significant amount of weaponry" inside the property. A drone was deployed to inspect the premises.

Local media reported that residents were evacuated while counter-terrorism police conducted searches at the property.

Police spokesperson Andrzej Fijolek told broadcaster TVN 24 that the attacker had used an AR-15 rifle during the shooting and held a firearms licence.

Police also confirmed on Sunday morning that three people found dead at the suspect's home were his parents and his 21-year-old sister. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack remains ongoing.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Pays Tribute To Victims

Following confirmation that a British national was among those killed, Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed his condolences to the victims' families and those affected by the violence.

Mr Burnham said: "I'm shocked and saddened by the appalling shooting in Krakow today.

"My thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their lives, everyone injured and all those affected by this senseless violence. The United Kingdom stands in solidarity with the people of Poland."

Krakow Mayor Lukasz Gibala has declared a period of mourning until Wednesday in response to the tragedy.

Mass Shootings Remain Rare In Poland

The attack has drawn attention to the rarity of mass shootings in Poland, where firearm ownership remains relatively low compared with several neighbouring countries.

The country has approximately 411,000 firearms licences among a population of around 37 million people.

Daniel Tillies, editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland, described the shooting as "a shocking, unprecedented event in Poland".

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Russell Brand Guilty Verdict: Rape Crisis Experts Offer Advice To Survivors Facing Media Coverage

Speaking to Sky News, he said: "Violent crime is rare here, crime involving firearms is even rarer. And this kind of mass shooting is unheard of, has never happened in Poland before."

However, Poland experienced a series of stabbing incidents at schools in the Mazovia province last month, leaving one person dead and several others injured.

Authorities said those incidents were influenced by violent and extremist material circulating online.

Investigations into the Krakow shooting are continuing as authorities work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the attack.