Six people died after a 24-year-old man opened fire on random people in Krakow's Main Market Square at about 3pm on Saturday, 7 November, police in Lesser Poland said. The gunman was wounded and detained. Poland declared national mourning for Sunday and Monday, 8 and 9 November.

Five of the victims died at the scene and the sixth died in hospital. They include three Polish women and a British citizen. The nationality of the other two has not yet been confirmed. Police say all six were random passers-by.

See also: Attack in central Krakow, no Bulgarians reported hurt so far

In all, 16 people were wounded, including five foreigners and police officers. In one police statement, that figure also includes the attacker. Seven people were taken to University Hospital in Krakow. Six are in a stable condition and one is in a serious condition.

In the first hours, police spoke of "several" dead and more than 10 wounded. They warned that the information was changing and would be updated, because the condition of the wounded could get worse.

The man drove into the square in a black Subaru. He wore a military uniform and fired a long, military-style weapon. Unconfirmed reports say it was an AR-15 carbine, the type the US army uses. His car held more weapons and ammunition.

Accounts of how the attack unfolded differ. In one version, he fired from the car without getting out, crossed the whole square, then drove on along Grodzka Street towards Wawel and then towards Stradomska Street.

In another version, the man opened the car door, took the safety off the automatic weapon and fired at random people. He then turned his fire on another part of the square, where people were running.

The worst-hit areas were in two places on the square. One is near the exit to Slawkowska Street. The other is by the Zara shop, near St Mary's Church and the exit to Sienna Street. Shots were also fired in the Small Market Square and on Stradomska Street.

Witnesses say the shooting caused panic among passers-by. Bullets broke a shop window near St Mary's Basilica and hit a city tram.

Police officers fired at the gunman and he fired back. He was wounded and detained by an officer at the junction of Stradomska and Dietla streets, about 1km in a straight line from the Main Square. In the first minutes, there were reports that police had probably shot at least one person. Police later confirmed that the person shot was the attacker.

The man was taken to a hospital in Krakow, where he had surgery. His condition is stable.

He carried no documents. Police identified him through operational work, said Lesser Poland police spokeswoman Katarzyna Cislo. Earlier, at a briefing, police admitted they did not yet know who he was.

The attacker is a Polish citizen who lives in Swietokrzyskie province. He comes from Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski. At his home, officers found three bodies, probably those of his parents and sister.

Police rejected reports that there were two attackers, that a police officer had died and that a second perpetrator was being sought. "We deny the information about the death of a police officer and a search for another perpetrator. The only known perpetrator of the incident is in police hands," police said.

Police, ambulances and the City Guard worked on the square, and an air rescue service helicopter landed there. Medics treated the injured at the scene. Police said everyone on the square was safe.

Officers are still working in the area. They are guarding the site and establishing exactly how the attack happened.

Interior and administration minister Marcin Kierwinski and prime minister Donald Tusk set off for Krakow. Tusk said police were looking into the circumstances and the minister was keeping him constantly updated.

Former prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki called for all those responsible to be caught and severely punished. Polish media call the attack an act of terrorism.

President Karol Nawrocki signed an order for two days of national mourning, his spokesman Rafal Leskiewicz said on X.

Britain expressed solidarity with the Poles. "I am shocked and saddened by today's horrifying shooting in Krakow," the British prime minister wrote.