Krakow Mass Shooting Suspect Dies in Hospital: Polish Police
The attack has shocked Poland, with the prime minister describing it as an 'act of terrorism.'
The Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow confirmed on Sunday that Magdalena Oksińska, a third-year painting student, was among the victims and had been killed alongside her parents.
Both national and local police confirmed the gunman’s death.
“We would like to inform you that the perpetrator of the tragic events died in hospital early this morning,” police in Poland’s southern Małopolska region said in a Nov. 9 post on X.
Krakow’s official municipal website gave more details on Monday, partially naming the gunman.
It said that “Michał O” has died after he was shot and detained during a police intervention and taken to hospital in a critical condition.
The attack happened on Slawkowska Street, a tourist hotspot on the northern edge of Main Market Square, about a quarter of a mile long and lined with cafes, hotels, and museums.
The shooter is a 24-year-old Polish citizen who allegedly acted alone. He wore a military-style uniform with a bulletproof vest and used a military-type long gun in the attack, according to Katarzyna Cislo, a spokesperson for the Krakow police.
Polish public broadcaster TVP reported remarks from the minister of the interior and administration, Marcin Kierwiński, at a Saturday press conference, during which he said the shooter held very radical views and was fascinated by far-right ideologies.
“The police have no basis to conclude that there were more than one perpetrator of this terrible massacre. It appears there was only one perpetrator,” Kierwiński said.
The conservative opposition criticized Kierwiński’s comments about motive.
Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek said on Monday the investigation aims to establish whether he acted alone or was inspired by a group.
“Evidence is being collected, but I will not show or disclose it. I ask for restraint,” Zurek told Radio Zet.
