A 32-year-old Scottish man has been confirmed as one of the victims of a mass shooting in Poland that left six people dead.
Victim and Attack Details
The man, who is understood to be James Thomas Campbell from Prestwick in South Ayrshire, died when a lone gunman opened fire in central Krakow on Saturday. Campbell worked as a DJ in Ayrshire.
The 24-year-old attacker, named as Michal Oksinski by local media, died in hospital on Monday after fatally shooting four Polish citizens and an Austrian woman. A further 15 people, including two police officers, were injured in the incident.
The attack began shortly before 15:00 local time on Saturday in Krakow’s Main Market Square, a popular tourist spot. Police reported that the gunman drove into the square before beginning to fire at random people from his vehicle. Armed officers rushed to the scene and engaged in a gunfight with the man, shooting him within three minutes of the attack starting.
In addition to the six people killed in central Krakow, police later discovered the bodies of the gunman’s parents and sister at his address on Saturday.
Investigation and Tributes
Police Scotland confirmed it was providing specialist support to the victim’s family, though formal identification is yet to be carried out. Det Ch Insp David McAlinden, senior investigating officer from Police Scotland’s Counter Terrorism Policing unit, stated that the force was aware of the tragic death.
He added that Police Scotland is supporting the UK counter-terrorism policing network and Polish authorities in conjunction with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. McAlinden noted that the immediate shared priority is ensuring proper identification for the family to enable rapid repatriation, while asking for the family’s privacy to be respected.
Mark Jewell, a close friend and fellow DJ who regularly performed with Campbell, remembered him as a quiet, kind, and soft-hearted person who would not have harmed a fly. He expressed disbelief over the tragedy, mentioning he had recently spoken with Campbell before the trip and messaged him after hearing about the attack without expecting him to be involved.
Earlier in the week, two friends from Aberdeen, 26-year-old Ciaran McMenemy and 27-year-old Charlie Hutchison, recounted fleeing for their lives and taking shelter after gunfire broke out just as they sat down for a drink.
Police Scotland stated that the formal identification process for Campbell is still pending.
