Poland has entered two days of national mourning after the armed attack in central Krakow, an घटना that has shaken the country and that authorities say is being investigated as an act of terrorism. While the initial toll spoke of six dead and 16 injured, it was later reported that the number of victims had risen to nine after three bodies were discovered in the home of the suspected perpetrator.
Flags at half-mast and terrorism investigation
The president of Poland declared two days of national mourning, while flags were lowered to half-mast across the country. The decision came after the attack in Krakow, which authorities are treating as an incident of a terrorist nature.
The event is considered one of the worst in decades in Poland, not only because of the number of victims, but also because of the way it happened in the middle of a populated area of the city.
Attack in the city center
According to the official police version, the suspected perpetrator is 25-year-old Michal Oksinski, who opened fire in central Krakow, Poland’s second-largest city.
Authorities said he drove a vehicle toward the Main Market Square and then began shooting at random people, causing panic and sending residents running in an attempt to leave the area.
Toll worsened after apartment discovery
Six people were killed in the shooting in the city center. According to police, the victims were four women and two men, while 16 others were injured.
Authorities later announced that three more bodies were found in the 25-year-old’s apartment: his 53-year-old father, his 52-year-old mother, and his 20-year-old sister. Initial reports indicate gunshot wounds, bringing the total death toll to nine.
Suspected links to the far right
According to initial reports, the suspect had links to the far right. At this stage, authorities have not made public further details that would clarify the motive or the full circumstances of the attack.
Police also confirmed that the attacker was wearing a military uniform, but said he had no connection to the army. Additional firearms and a large quantity of ammunition were found in his vehicle.
Police officers also among the injured
Among the 16 injured are two police officers. According to authorities, one of them is in critical condition.
Police said officers who intervened at the scene shot and wounded the suspected perpetrator, while the investigation remains open to reconstruct the entire chain of events.
The massacre in Krakow has once again opened debate over public security and the ability of institutions to prevent such attacks, especially when signs of radicalization are mentioned only after the tragedy has occurred.
For the moment, most of the information comes from the official version of the Polish authorities, while many questions about the motive and the full dynamics of the event remain unanswered.