Krakow Gunman’s Parents and Sister Found Dead as Poland Mourns Six Killed in Market Square Shooting
Poland began two days of national mourning on Sunday as police revealed a grim new detail: the gunman who opened fire in Krakow’s Main Market Square had first shot dead his parents and his sister at home.
Six people were killed in the square on Saturday afternoon, one more than first reported, and 16 other people were injured, including two police officers.
What happened
At about 3pm local time on Saturday, 7 November, the gunman drove a car into Rynek Glowny, Krakow’s historic main square, and opened fire at random from the vehicle. Police shot him, and he is in hospital in critical condition.
On Saturday evening, police searching his home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, a town north-east of Krakow, found his 53-year-old father, 52-year-old mother and 21-year-old sister dead, all with gunshot wounds. Investigators believe he shot them before travelling to Krakow, and prosecutors said on Sunday it was “highly likely” the same person carried out both attacks.
Police identified the suspect as Michal O., a 24-year-old Polish citizen with no criminal record. He has not yet been questioned, because doctors must first clear him. One wounded officer, Jakub Kulik, was hit three times and is in a critical condition.
The far-right link
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said the suspect was fascinated by far-right ideologies and held “very radical” ultranationalist views. Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz called the attack an act of terror, and prosecutors have opened an investigation into an offence of a terrorist nature. The precise motive is still unclear.
Why it matters
A random mass shooting is rare in Poland, which has strict gun laws and very low gun violence. The attack has shaken a country that prides itself on being safer than many of its neighbours.
President Karol Nawrocki declared national mourning for 8 and 9 November, with flags at half-staff. Krakow has declared its own mourning period until 11 November. The trumpet call from St Mary’s church was suspended for 12 hours to commemorate the dead, the first time since 1939.
What happens next
Police have bolstered security around the closed square and say they are not searching for any other suspects. Investigators must now confirm the sequence of events, establish how he obtained his weapons, and find out whether anyone encouraged or helped him.
Read our earlier report: Five Killed and More Than a Dozen Injured in Krakow Market Square Shooting
Sources
- Reuters, “Poland mourns victims of Krakow mass shooting as security fears grow”, 8 November 2026: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/poland-mourns-victims-krakow-mass-shooting-security-fears-grow-2026-11-08/
- CNN, “Poland stunned as suspect with far-right views kills 6 in Krakow mass shooting”, 8 November 2026: https://www.cnn.com/2026/11/07/europe/krakow-shooting-poland-killed-intl?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_meta
- Le Monde, “Poland in shock after Krakow mass shooting”, 8 November 2026: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/11/08/poland-in-shock-after-krakow-mass-shooting_6775013_4.html
- Ynet News, “Krakow gunman allegedly killed parents and sister before massacre; officer fights for life”, 8 November 2026: https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjjvmt6aml
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
