At least 5 killed in shooting in Polish city of Krakow, police say

At least five people were killed and about a dozen wounded in a shooting near the main market square in the southern Polish city of Krakow on Saturday.

The perpetrator has been shot and wounded in the exchange of fire, authorities said.

He has been taken to a hospital, police said.

Later, police told AFP that the gunman is a Polish citizen and acted alone.

According to Krakow police, the gunman aimed at random people as he drove by the city's main square. Among the wounded are police officers.

"At around 3 pm [1400 GMT], a man who had driven into the market square in a car began shooting at random people from inside the vehicle," police said on X.

"The perpetrator was shot by police ‌officers and is currently being ‌transported ​to a hospital," police said.

Initially, authorities urged people in the immediate vicinity to evacuate to a safe place.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted on X that police are investigating the attack and called it a "tragic" incident to have occurred.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki wrote on X that his thoughts were with the victims and wounded, as well as their families.

Krakow is located about 250 kilometers (155 miles) from Warsaw, the capital of Poland.

With a population of over 800,000, Krakow is Poland's second-largest city, as well as a popular tourist destination. Key attractions include the main square, Wawel Castle, and the cathedral on Wawel Hill.

This is a developing story. Please check back for the latest version.