British couple in Krakow recall moment gunman opened fire in horrifying attack

A British couple holidaying in Poland have described the terrifying moment they heard gunshots ring out across Krakow, forcing them to run for cover inside a nearby church.

Jonathan Balshaw, from Ipswich, Suffolk, was visiting the Polish city with his girlfriend Dominika as part of a surprise trip for his 30th birthday when the horrifying incident unfolded on Saturday (7 Nov).

The pair had been walking back to their accommodation through the city centre when they heard a series of loud bangs, causing pigeons in the square to suddenly take flight into the sky.

Initially believing the noise could have been a car backfiring, Balshaw soon realised something far more sinister was happening.

Having grown up in a military household, he recognised the distinctive sound of rifle fire and knew they needed to find somewhere safe. Speaking to the BBC, Balshaw explained how he and his partner ran down an alleyway alongside a church, with the sound of gunfire echoing around them.

A member of staff eventually allowed them inside the basilica through a side entrance.

By that point, Balshaw estimated he had heard between 20 and 30 gunshots.

However, despite finding shelter, the couple were left fearing the gunman could turn his attention towards the church, which was filled with tourists.

Six people were killed in the shooting (Omar Marques/Getty Images)

"It was honestly quite surreal, the vast majority of the people in there were tourists, there were a lot of people in there," Balshaw explained. "We were worried this was some kind of mass shooting, from the amount of shots fired, at that point I thought hiding in a church packed with people is not the safest place to be. We were worried that if this guy hadn't been apprehended, that the church could be their next target."

He explained that, with so many people gathered inside, they feared the building could become another target if the attacker had not been stopped.

The situation was made all the more frightening by the fact that nobody initially knew where the gunfire was coming from.

Balshaw and his girlfriend eventually decided to leave the church and attempt to return to their apartment, as ambulance sirens rang out across the city.

But it was only when they witnessed the aftermath - including paramedics attempting to resuscitate a man lying on the ground - that the full horror of what had happened began to sink in.

Balshaw recalled seeing emergency workers performing CPR on the victim, who appeared to be unresponsive.

He said it was at that moment that the reality of the attack really hit him.

"It was at that point that it really kind of clicked that something had happened," he added.

Balshaw hid in a basilica with his partner (Omar Marques/Getty Images)

Keen to avoid leaving their loved ones worrying back home, Balshaw had also contacted his family early on to let them know they were safe.

He explained that his father had been in London during the 7/7 terror attacks, and he remembered how frightening it had been not knowing whether he was safe or not, and he didn't want either family to experience that same uncertainty.

"I didn't want to put my parents or my partner's parents through that," Balshaw continued.

The shooting left six people dead, including a British national, while 16 others were injured, according to subsequent reports.

Footage of the incident showed a police officer confronting the suspected gunman and opening fire before appearing to collapse after being injured.

Balshaw paid tribute to the officer's bravery, describing how he had continued to confront the attacker despite being shot.

He said he could not think of anything more courageous than getting out of a vehicle after being shot multiple times to stop someone who was still armed.

The 24-year-old suspect was also taken to hospital with gunshot wounds following the incident.

In an update on Monday (9 Nov), Polish police confirmed that the suspected gunman had died in hospital.

According to Sky News and The Guardian, the attack took place in Krakow's historic Main Square, with investigators continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the killings.

Balshaw contacted his family as soon as he was safe (Omar Marques/Getty Images)

Balshaw said the events would have a lasting impact on the people of Poland, not just those who had lost loved ones, but everyone who had witnessed the violence or feared for their safety.

"This will fundamentally change Poland and their feeling of security for the rest of their lives," he noted. "People say thoughts and prayers to the people of Poland but it's not just about the family of those that have lost.

"It's about everyone else and that innocence that they have lost because of this as well."