Four women and two men have been killed and 15 injured after a gunman opened fire in a market square in Krakow, Polish police say.

A man was firing toward random people from a car driving through the city’s main square about 3pm.

Two police officers were wounded, one seriously, in a shootout with the alleged attacker.

The suspect was wounded during the confrontation. After being transported to hospital, he was arrested and is now in policy custody.

The Guardian reports that the attacker wore “military style” clothing and used “military type firearms”. More weapons have been secured in his car.

Nothing has been confirmed about the motive behind the attack.

Images from the scene showed police officers and ambulances covering the area, which is in the centre of Krakow and a major tourist destination.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, in a post on X, said police were investigating the attack.

He praised the “heroic police officers who risked their lives” to stop the shooter.

Police say the suspected perpetrator of a shooting has been detained. Photo: EPA

Tusk also urged colleagues “of all stripes: do not exploit this tragedy”.

“We will establish all the circumstances of this crime,” he adds.

Krakow is the second-largest city in Poland and about 250km from the capital Warsaw.

Poland’s president Karol Nawrocki said his thoughts are with the victims.

“I am deeply concerned by reports of the tragic events,” Nawrocki wrote on social media.

He added he remains in contact with authorities and expects “a full explanation of the circumstances”.

Małopolska region police said the perpetrator is Polish, rebuking conspiracy theories on social media.

Unverified footage shared on social media showed people fleeing the scene as shots rang out and police sirens blared.

Other video showed two people lying on blood-spattered paving stones and bystanders trying to resuscitate them.

A third person lay motionless on the ground nearby.

“I saw shots being fired from the driver’s side window, and smoke was coming out. I ran to the ⁠police station in the main market square; when I burst inside, it ‌was full ​of people hiding on the floor,” a man who gave his name only as Konrad, and witnessed the shooting, told news ​website Interia.

Police say six people were killed after shots were fired from a car in the centre of Krakow. Photo: AP

Unverified footage on social media showed shooting in the Main Market Square as traditional horse-drawn carriages, popular with tourists, passed through or were parked nearby.

A man could be seen taking cover in one of the many restaurants and cafes that line the elegant square.

“Police officers in Krakow intervened, risking their own lives. They acted immediately. Thanks to their heroic conduct, the assailant was ​quickly apprehended,” Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said on X.

“One officer sustained a gunshot wound, while another is in very critical ​condition with three gunshot wounds. ⁠Surgery is currently underway.”

About 15 million tourists visit Krakow annually, the majority passing through the main square.

-with AAP