Five people are dead and several others injured after a gunman opened fire on pedestrians in the heart of Poland's Krakow on Saturday afternoon, turning a busy city-centre stretch into the scene of a major emergency response.

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The shooting took place at around 3 pm, when an unidentified assailant allegedly fired at pedestrians from a moving car travelling from Sławkowska Street towards Krakow's Main Market Square, AFP reported, citing preliminary information.

The attack prompted an immediate response from emergency services, with police personnel and medical teams rushing to the area. A medical helicopter also landed at the Main Market Square as authorities responded to the casualties.

Police subsequently launched a search operation to track down the armed suspect.

Residents and tourists were urged to stay away from the affected area and move to safety as security personnel worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The incident also drew a response from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said he was receiving regular updates from the country's Interior Minister.

‘I am being kept informed by the Minister of the Interior about the situation in Krakow following the tragic shooting,’ Tusk wrote in a post on X.

The Polish prime minister added that police were investigating the incident's background and examining all circumstances surrounding the attack.

With preliminary reports saying the suspect has yet to be identified, the police search remained a key focus of the emergency response.

Authorities were also working to establish what led to the shooting and the sequence of events that unfolded in the city centre.

The attack has raised fresh concerns over public safety in one of Poland's prominent tourist destinations, where the Main Market Square is a major gathering point for residents and visitors.