Rare shooting unfolds in Poland

By: Javohir Aminov, News Editor

On Saturday, Nov. 7, before 3:00 p.m., 24–year–old Michał Oksiński was driving in the city of Kraków, Poland in the main market square when he started to open fire at random citizens.

Suddenly, panic ensued as eyewitness accounts reported multiple bodies laying on the street in a pool of their own blood and stray bullets hitting nearby stores as well as an oncoming tram. Oksiński ended up taking the lives of four women and two men that day while injuring 16 others, including two police officers and five foreigners.

Shortly after, police arrived and pursued Oksiński in a gunfight, and he was ultimately stopped after suffering from a gunshot wound. After the incident, he was taken to the hospital, where he underwent multiple surgeries in an attempt to save his life.

However, the perpetrator was in critical condition and ended up dying in the hospital on Monday, Nov. 9. Oksiński was in military style attire, and used a military graded weapon despite not being a soldier, reported by Police Deputy Inspector Katarzyna Cisło on TVN24.

Police later found additional weapons and ammunition from his vehicle. Although Oksiński unjustly used his gun, he legally had a firearms license and attended a shooting club with his 53–year–old father along with his 21–year–old sister and 52–year–old mother, where authorities believed he took their lives prior to the mass shooting.

The cause of the attack is still under investigation, but is believed to be a terrorist attack fueled by right–wing ideology. This also raises concern for Polish citizens and the prime minister as this is an unexpected and rare moment in Poland, considering the strict gun laws that are immutable.

After the attack, Kraków Mayor Łukasz Gibała signed an order, declaring a mourning period that will be held until Wednesday, Nov. 11, which included a silent march in honor of the victims that passed away. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Karol Nawrocki attended the march showing their remorse. “Until now in Poland, we haven't had such drastic cases of terrorism. That's what we have to call this cruel attack on people's lives here in Krakow," Tusk states.