A 24-year-old man opened fire on pedestrians in Kraków’s central market square, killing six people and wounding 16 others, according to reports from Dzirkstele.lv.
The shooting, which occurred on November 7, has ignited a national debate in Poland regarding the accessibility of firearms and the adequacy of current oversight. One week prior, Polish President Karol Nawrocki, who is Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s fiercest political opponent, spoke at the opening of a new shooting range and stated that society must engage in a discussion about a responsible approach to firearms.
The suspect, identified by Dzirkstele.lv as Michał Oksyński, died in the hospital on November 9 after being shot by police. Investigators subsequently discovered that his residence, located roughly 200 kilometers away from Kraków, contained the bodies of his parents and 21-year-old sister.
“It is necessary to urgently review all rules regulating the purchase of weapons and the operation of firearms,” Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, according to LSM, while cautioning against making decisions based on “short-term emotions and various populist calls.”
Police heroism and casualties
Two officers, Artur Morański and Jakub Kulik, were instrumental in neutralizing the attacker, who used an automatic weapon to fire upon bystanders in the central market square of Poland’s second-largest city.
Visegrád 24 reported that Kulik sustained three gunshot wounds, while Morański was hit in the chest and arm. Upon waking from a coma, Morański’s first words were, “Is Kuba alive?” as he inquired about the status of his partner, Visegrád 24 reported.
Both officers received high state honors for their actions during the attack. Dzirkstele.lv noted that police arrived at the scene 23 seconds after the first emergency call was received.
Disputes over firearm oversight
While Poland has more than one million civilian firearms, only approximately 412,000 official permits have been issued, according to LSM. The Polish Supreme Audit Office noted earlier this year that current police practices make it impossible to determine the exact number of firearm owners.
Political figures are divided on whether to tighten restrictions or refine existing systems. Adrian Zandbergs, leader of the “Razem” party, suggested that the current system lacks consistent psychological monitoring for certain groups. “For years, the question has hung over us: do we really control who receives these firearm permits?” Zandbergs said, LSM reported, specifically citing concerns regarding the lack of regular psychological checks for hunters and sports shooters.
Conversely, Michał Wavers, leader of the “Confederation” party, argued that strengthening regulations is unnecessary. He stated that the focus should remain on strictly following existing legal procedures rather than creating new ones, suggesting the Kraków incident proves that current rules are sometimes ignored rather than insufficient.
Border threats influence firearm security discussions
Zbigniew Bocucki, head of the President’s Chancellery, noted that while procedures may need improvement, the increasing threat level on Poland’s eastern borders makes a highly trained and responsible citizenry with firearms a national interest. “Security is provided only by a trained and responsible person who uses the weapon,” Bocucki said.
| Category | Reported Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total Deaths | 6 | Dzirkstele.lv |
| Total Wounded | 16 | Dzirkstele.lv |
| Official Permits Issued | ~412,000 | LSM |
Frequently Asked Questions
Among the deceased were four Polish citizens, one British citizen, and one Austrian citizen, according to Dzirkstele.lv.
The attacker held a legal permit for one pistol and one rifle, though a much larger arsenal was found at his home, LSM reported.
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