KRAKOW, Poland — The gunman who killed six people in Krakow’s Main Market Square on Saturday has died in hospital, Polish police said early on Monday, as prosecutors widened their investigation to the killing of three members of his own family.
Małopolska Police announced the death in a post on X: “We would like to inform you that the perpetrator of the tragic events died in hospital early this morning.”
The 24-year-old had been in critical condition after police shot and wounded him within minutes of the attack on Saturday afternoon. He underwent multiple operations, according to Polish public broadcaster TVP.
Six killed in the square, three more at home
The gunman drove into the square, known as Rynek Główny, shortly before 3 p.m. local time on Saturday and opened fire at random from his car, killing four women and two men. At least 15 other people were wounded, including two police officers who remain in hospital.
Four of the victims were Polish. A 32-year-old British man and an Austrian woman were also killed. Polish media named the first victim as Izabela Wozna, a 53-year-old artist and mother of four.
Hours after the attack, police searching the gunman’s home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, northeast of Krakow, found the bodies of his father, 53, his mother, 52, and his sister, 21. Prosecutors said on Sunday it was “highly likely” the same man killed them, and he is now suspected of nine killings in total. Eleven firearms were recovered from the two scenes.
Terrorism investigation under way
Poland’s National Prosecutor’s Office has opened a terrorism investigation. Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek said the gunman “acted with the aim of seriously intimidating a large number of people, making this a terrorist offence.”
Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the attack an act of terrorism and the deadliest shooting in Poland since the end of communism in 1989.
The government said the attacker, a 24-year-old Polish citizen from Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, may have been inspired by far-right ideology, without giving further details. Polish media have named him as Michał Oksiński; police have not officially released his name.
Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz denied reports that the suspect was a soldier and said he never served in the Polish Armed Forces.
Krakow’s mayor has declared a period of mourning in the city until November 11. Mass shootings are rare in Poland, which has strict gun laws.
This is a developing story.
Sources: Reuters; CNN; The Times.
