The historic expanse of Krakow's Main Market Square in Poland became the scene of sudden horror when an unknown gunman opened fire from a moving vehicle into crowds of bystanders. The 24-year-old Polish man drove through the central public area, targeting people at random before police intervened and detained him.
The assault left six people killed and between 15 and 16 injured. The victims included international visitors and locals alike, with casualties from the United Kingdom and Austria among those killed, and others injured hailing from Germany, Portugal, and Russia. Police detained the perpetrator after he sustained injuries during his arrest, ending the immediate threat on the square.
As law enforcement officers secured the scene in Krakow, a parallel investigation uncovered an even broader familial tragedy. In Ostrowiec Swietokrzyskie, authorities discovered the bodies of the 24-year-old attacker's parents and his sister.
Sustaining severe wounds during his violent arrest by police, the 24-year-old perpetrator was transferred under guard to a hospital in Poland.
Investigators believe the gunman killed his family members before or in conjunction with his public rampage in Krakow. The discovery of three additional slain family members at their home deepened the horrific scope of the perpetrator's actions, expanding the investigation across regional lines.
Krakow mass shooter Michal Oksiński is dead. The 24-yo died in hospital after police shot him during his arrest. He killed six people in Kraków's Main Market Square and three family members at home. https://t.co/nKctFmGbP3
In the aftermath of the shooting, high-ranking government officials began outlining the motives behind the violence. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski reported that the 24-year-old attacker held radical views and exhibited a strong fascination with far-right ideologies.
Based on the evidence gathered at the scene and the nature of the vehicle-borne shooting, the prosecutor's office officially opened a terrorism case, characterizing the assault as having a "terrorist character." The legal designation underscored the deliberate attempt to inflict mass casualties and terrorize the public in one of Poland's most prominent urban spaces.
The gunman did not live to face trial for his actions. Sustaining severe wounds during his violent arrest by police, the 24-year-old perpetrator was transferred under guard to a hospital in Poland.
Medical officials confirmed that the gunman had succumbed to his injuries. The Police of the voivodeship of Lesser Poland issued a brief statement regarding his condition: "We inform you that the author of the tragic events died in the hospital." With the attacker's death, legal proceedings shifted entirely toward understanding how the perpetrator planned and executed the attack.
🚨🇵🇱 The Krakow gunman, Michal Oksiński, has died. The 24-year-old killed six people in the Main Market Square and three of his own family members at home. He was shot by police during his arrest and died in hospital. https://t.co/nYOQum2Iz6
The impact of the six fatalities and widespread injuries resonated across Poland. Polish President Karol Nawrocki declared two days of national mourning to honor the victims killed in the square and support the families affected by the tragedy.
Local leaders immediately moved to reassure the public and reaffirm the city's identity. Krakow Mayor Lukasz Gibala called on residents and visitors to stand united against violence and fear. "Let us show solidarity in this difficult time and prove that Krakow will always be a proud, welcoming, and open city," Gibala urged.
In the wake of the President's declaration of national mourning, local organizers announced a rally at the Main Market Square, bringing citizens back to the site of the attack to demonstrate unity.
As the city grieves the six lives lost and supports the 15 to 16 injured victims recovering from their wounds, officials continue to reflect on the tragedy. The swift response from civic authorities and community members aims to ensure that Krakow remains defined by openness rather than the extreme violence that briefly overtook its historic center.
⚡️ The man who carried out the deadly shooting in the center of Krakow died in the hospital, the Malopolska Voivodeship police reported. This concerns 24-year-old Michał Oksiński. According to preliminary information, before the attack in Krakow, he also killed his parents and his 21-year-old sister. In total, six people died as a result of the shooting. 👉 Follow @blyskavka_ua