Polish President Karol Nawrocki has declared two days of national mourning following a deadly shooting in the historic centre of Krakow that left six people dead, including a British national, and several others injured.
The president’s spokesman confirmed that a decree had been signed designating November 8 and 9 as official days of mourning across Poland.
“The President signed a decree … declaring a period of national mourning throughout the territory of the Republic of Poland on November 8 and 9,” the spokesman said in a statement.
The announcement followed Saturday afternoon’s attack in Krakow, Poland’s second-largest city, where a gunman reportedly drove into the busy Main Market Square and opened fire indiscriminately on people in the area.
Authorities said six people were killed, while numerous others sustained injuries.
The attacker was reportedly influenced by far-right ideology, although the precise circumstances surrounding the shooting and the suspect’s motivations remain under investigation.
The national mourning period began at midnight, with Polish flags lowered to half-mast at public buildings and official institutions throughout the country.
Media organisations and businesses have also adopted visible signs of mourning. Several websites added black ribbons to their logos and switched to subdued colour schemes in tribute to the victims.
Radio and television broadcasters adjusted their schedules, while entertainment events were cancelled as communities observed the national tragedy.
The two-day observance reflects the country’s response to one of the deadliest reported attacks in Krakow’s historic city centre, a major destination for residents and international tourists.