A shooting occurred in one of Europe’s largest medieval squares, a bustling area popular with tourists. Jonathan Balshaw from Ipswich was with his Polish girlfriend, Dominika, outside St Mary’s Basilica when gunfire erupted.
Jonathan recounted, “We ran down the side of the church and through a side door, hiding with several others until the gunfire died down. More than 20 shots were fired, and it sounded like multiple firearms—two distinctly different noises.”
Caitlin Shasby, visiting Krakow from Newcastle with her friend Jon for a long weekend, said they heard shots from their hotel room. They remained unsure of what was happening until hotel staff advised them to “stay in our rooms until further notice.”
Local media outlet Gazeta Krakowska reported that two surgeons sprang into action to assist the injured once the shooting ceased. Dr Mateusz Wierdak and Prof Michał Pędziwiatr, who had been dining with their families, helped the wounded.
Pędziwiatr noted that two police officers were conscious and had superficial gunshot wounds to their chests. He added that the shooter was also awake and in pain, suffering wounds to the abdomen, thigh, and chest. “We don’t feel like heroes, but we did everything a paramedic would do at the scene of such an incident,” he stated.
