Thousands of nationalist supporters gathered in Warsaw on Wednesday (November 11) for an annual Independence Day march. Poland deployed extra police in the capital amid political tension over a mass shooting in Krakow.

Crowds held large Polish flags and lit flares, with smoke billowing above the march.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk appealed for restraint amid sharper-than-usual political divisions after ministers outraged nationalists by saying the man who killed six people in the main square of Krakow may have been motivated by far-right ideology. A large banner reading "Make Europe white again" was spotted in the crowd.

But pensioner Wieslawa Cieplik, 68, said she expected the most peaceful march yet, as a tribute to the victims and their families, and Jonathan Romuzga, a 62-year-old businessman from Los Angeles who held a US flag, said it was about patriotism, not ideology.

The march has long caused friction between right-wing parties and the ruling centrists, who say it is a platform for division and racism. Participants deny this and say it expresses national pride.

Police said they brought in more officers from outside Warsaw, without giving numbers, and installed concrete barriers on streets near the starting point.

Authorities have in the past attempted to stop the march taking place following clashes between some of the participants and their political opponents or police.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: WARSAW, POLAND (NOVEMBER 11, 2026)(REUTERS-Access all)

1. PEOPLE GATHERED FOR INDEPENDENCE MARCH HOLDING BIG POLISH FLAG, LIGHTING FLARES

2. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE STANDING, HOLDING FLARES AND POLISH FLAGS, SMOKE RISING

3. SMOKE FROM FLARES RISING

4. PEOPLE HOLDING BIG POLISH FLAG, LIGHTING FLARES

5. PEOPLE GATHERED FOR INDEPENDENCE MARCH

6. PEOPLE HOLDING ROSARY BEADS

7. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PRAYING AND HOLDING POLISH FLAGS

8. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE MARCHING AND WAVING POLISH FLAGS

9. (SOUNDBITE)(Polish) 68-YEAR-OLD PENSIONER, WIESLAWA CIEPLIK, SAYING:

“The situation in the country is tense, that’s clear. Especially given the distressing events that took place in Krakow—things no one expected—I suspect that this march will be the most peaceful one held so far. It serves as a tribute to those who lost their lives, and is a gesture of respect toward their families—at least, that’s how I perceive it.”

10. (SOUNDBITE)(Polish) 51-YEAR-OLD EMPLOYEE AT A CARDBOARD PACKAGING MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN THE UK, PAWEL KARASNOPOLSKI, SAYING:

“I think that, following the tragic events in Krakow and the broader situation—which has been dragging on, particularly regarding the Constitutional Tribunal—the atmosphere is, to put it mildly, quite heated. One might expect this march to be a bit different, perhaps reflecting a different intensity of sentiment. There is a possibility of provocations, so people should simply be careful. We must remember that we are all Polish and that we live in Poland. We want what is best for the country, so let this march be an expression of our devotion and love for our homeland, rather than an extension of all these existing conflicts.”

11. (SOUNDBITE)(English) 62-YEAR-OLD BUSINESSMAN FROM LOS ANGELES, JONATHAN ROMUZGA, SAYING:

“This march is not about political things, it's about patriotism. Polish people are marching, it doesn't really matter whether they're right or left. So at least, that's what I hope for.”

12. VARIOUS OF ROMUZGA HOLDING US FLAG

13. POLISH AND US FLAGS

14. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE HOLDING POLISH FLAGS

15. PEOPLE GATHERED FOR INDEPENDENCE MARCH HOLDING BIG POLISH FLAG

16. PEOPLE HOLDING LARGE BANNER READING (English): “Make Europe white again”

17. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERED FOR INDEPENDENCE MARCH HOLDING BIG POLISH FLAG, LIGHTING FLARES