Tens of thousands of mourners filled the streets of central Krakow on Monday evening, participating in a silent march led by President Karol Nawrocki and Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The political rivals, rarely seen side by side, walked alongside Mayor Lukasz Gibala to honor the victims of the weekend’s mass shooting. Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told TVN24 that the event proves Poland is "capable of showing solidarity during difficult times." Mourners carried flowers and candles to shrines marking each death spot on the cobblestones, while a bugler played from a tower as the crowd reached Market Square. This display of unity stands in stark contrast to the country’s usual viciously polarized political environment, where such cooperation is exceptionally rare.
A deadly rampage with unclear motives
The alleged gunman, 24-year-old Michal Oksinski, died in hospital on Monday after being critically wounded in a shoot-out with police. Investigators identified him as a resident of Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski who allegedly shot his parents and sister at their home before driving 200km south to continue the killing in Krakow. He opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle in the market square, killing six people and wounding 15 others. Among the dead were an Austrian woman, a British man, and a Polish painter in her 50s who was visiting for an exhibition opening. Authorities initially linked Oksinski to far-right ideologies, but prosecutors later stated there is no evidence tying him to any specific political bent. National prosecutor’s office spokesperson Przemyslaw Nowak said it is "far too early to comment on the motives," noting they found no obvious symbols associated with a particular movement. The interior minister had previously claimed Oksinski was driven by extremist views, a statement Dr Pawel Musialek of Jagiellonian University called irresponsible behavior aimed at winning domestic political points.
Investigators seized 11 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition from Oksinski’s car, all legally owned by him and his father. Both men were members of the Swit Starachowice sports club, which operates a shooting range. The club spokesman described Oksinski as unremarkable, noting he had visited only three times this year, most recently in August. His grandmother reported that he obtained a gun licence earlier this year. Following the attack, the government announced an urgent review of gun licence conditions, including regular updates to medical records. In 2025, more than 50,000 new licences were awarded, bringing the national total to 411,000. Two police officers, including Jakub Kulik who was shot in the chest, are still in serious condition after the chase. A girl named Bianka left a card at their memorial reading: "Thank you Mr Policemen, get better soon." Olha, a Ukrainian shop worker who fled Russia’s invasion, expressed anger that the gunman did not survive, stating there would be "no justice" for the ruined lives.
