Krakow square shooting suspect dies in hospital after killing six people
The gunman who opened fire in Krakow's Main Market Square has died in hospital following a shootout with police. Investigations into the motive behind the killings remain ongoing.
The gunman who opened fire in a public square in Poland has died in hospital from injuries sustained during a police shootout, according to statements from regional police and the Lesser Poland police on Monday. The 24-year-old assailant passed away in the early morning hours on Monday, having been in critical condition and undergoing multiple surgeries after continuing to fire even after being wounded by officers during the rampage.
The attack unfolded on Saturday afternoon when the suspect, dressed in military-style clothing and a bulletproof vest, drove his car into the Main Market Square in Krakow’s Old Town and opened fire. As authorities note, the central square is a major tourist destination and a bustling commercial hub in Poland's second-largest city. Armed officers raced to the scene and engaged the shooter, managing to shoot and apprehend him within three minutes of the rampage beginning, an intervention officials said prevented a further massacre.
Media additions
Prior to the public square shooting, authorities discovered the bodies of the gunman's 53-year-old father, 52-year-old mother, and 21-year-old sister at their family home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, a city located approximately 150 kilometers northeast of Krakow. The three family members likely died from gunshot wounds. The suspect’s sister, Magdalena Oksińska, was an artist and third-year student at the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow.
| Category | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Casualties Killed | 6 in Krakow square (4 women, 2 men); 3 family members at home | Wishtv, Newsweek, Bbc |
| Nationalities of Square Fatalities | 4 Polish, 1 British, 1 Austrian | Wishtv, Bbc |
| Injured Total | 15 to 16 people hospitalized, including 5 foreigners and 2 police officers | Wishtv, Bbc, Euronews.com |
| Weapons Recovered | 4 firearms in car/scene (including 2 AR-15 rifles and 2 handguns); multiple guns from family home | Bbc, Newsweek |
Investigations into the motive behind the killings remain ongoing. Government officials initially suggested the attacker was fascinated by far-right ideologies and ultra-nationalism. However, authorities later walked back those assertions after opposition politicians questioned the claims. Przemysław Nowak, a spokesperson for Poland's National Prosecutor's Office, stated that investigations into the motive remain open. Government spokesperson Adam Szlapka advised restraint until authorities possess complete information, while Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek noted that evidence is being collected and asked for public restraint.
The tragedy prompted deep national grief, with Poland declaring two days of national mourning. Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the event as an unprecedented act of terrorism in the country. In Krakow, local residents and visitors gathered at the central square to lay candles and flowers alongside bullet holes, seeking to reclaim the public space after the bloodshed. Main Market Square reopened on Sunday evening after security cordons were lifted. St. Anne's Church filled with mourners attending memorial services.
Heroic actions by bystanders and police have been widely recognized. Two surgeons who were eating nearby, Michał Pędziwiatr and Mateusz Wierdak, rushed to the scene to stem the bleeding of a severely injured police officer. Both wounded police officers who stopped the gunman have since emerged from comas and remain hospitalized in serious or stable condition.
What to watch next
- Prosecutors continue to examine the contents of secured electronic devices and electronic equipment seized from the suspect's car and home to determine if he acted alone or was inspired by any group.
- The government will review regulations on requirements for people with gun permits following the tragedy.
