Krakow shooting rampage suspect dies amid hunt for motive

A man identified as Michal Oksinski, 24, died in a Polish hospital on Monday after being critically injured during a shootout with police, according to regional authorities. Oksinski had allegedly opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle in a Krakow square, killing six people, including three family members, in the deadliest shooting in Poland since communism ended in 1989.

The bodies of his parents and sister were discovered at their family home in another town. Two police officers were also seriously wounded during the incident and shot Oksinski at an intersection near the city's Main Market Square.

Initially, Oksinski was linked to the far right, but prosecutors later stated that his motives remained unclear, and no evidence tied him to any particular ideology. Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the shooting an act of "terrorism". The suspect, dressed in military attire, was found with multiple emblems and patches on his clothing, which are currently being analyzed in the investigation.

Oksinski had no prior criminal record and was a member of a shooting club with his father. He obtained a gun license this year, and his grandmother confirmed that he had recently done so. Following the shooting, the interior ministry announced a review of the conditions for granting gun licenses, including the regular updating of license-holder's medical records. Poland has experienced a significant increase in the number of firearms permits, with over 50,000 new licenses awarded in 2025, bringing the total to 411,000.