Krakow's Main Market Square, with the Cloth Hall and Town Hall Tower

Krakow Gunman Dies in Hospital After Killing Six in Main Market Square Shooting

November 9, 2026 Faizan Altaf

The gunman who killed six people in a mass shooting in Krakow’s Main Market Square has died in hospital, Polish police said on Monday, 9 November 2026.

The 24-year-old died at around 4:30am local time after at least three operations, regional authorities said. He had been in critical condition since police shot and arrested him minutes after he opened fire on Saturday afternoon.

What happened on Saturday

The gunman, from the town of Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski in south-eastern Poland, drove into Krakow’s Main Market Square and opened fire from his car, wearing military-style clothing and a bulletproof vest.

Six people were killed: four women and two men, including a British man and an Austrian national. Fifteen other people were wounded.

Police reached the scene within minutes and shot the gunman, stopping the attack. Two officers were injured and remain in hospital. One is still in a serious condition, although he was brought out of a medically induced coma on Sunday. Police have launched a blood appeal for the injured officer, Jakub Kulik.

Read our earlier report: Krakow Gunman’s Parents and Sister Found Dead as Poland Mourns Six Killed in Market Square Shooting

Family found dead at home

After the shooting, police searched the gunman’s family home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, 125 miles (200km) north-east of Krakow. They found the bodies of his 53-year-old father, his 52-year-old mother and his 21-year-old sister, all with gunshot wounds.

Prosecutors said it was “highly likely” that the same man killed his family before travelling to Krakow. Eleven firearms were recovered from the two locations. Polish media have named the gunman as Michal Oksinski, but police have not officially confirmed his name.

Why it matters

The shooting was Poland’s deadliest since the end of communism in 1989. Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the attack an act of “terrorism”, and Poland began two days of national mourning.

Prosecutors opened an investigation into an act of terrorism on Sunday. The government had first said the attacker may have been inspired by far-right ideology, but on Monday prosecutors said there was no evidence tying him to any particular political view.

Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek said the investigation will continue despite the gunman’s death, to establish whether he acted alone or was inspired by any group.

What happens next

Autopsies of the victims were due to begin on Monday. The wounded are being treated in hospitals across Krakow, with most in a stable condition. The square reopened on Sunday evening, and residents have been leaving flowers and tributes at the scene.

Sources

This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.

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