Thousands of people gathered in the Polish city of Krakow on Monday evening to remember the six people killed in a mass shooting that shocked the country over the weekend.
The silent march brought together President Karol Nawrocki and Prime Minister Donald Tusk, two political rivals who joined residents, local officials and religious leaders in paying tribute to the victims.
Participants assembled in the city's historic Main Market Square, where the shooting took place on Saturday, 7 November. Carrying candles and flowers, they walked through parts of the area affected by the attack, stopping at locations where victims lost their lives.
The gathering was organised by Krakow Mayor Łukasz Gibała, who had called on residents to stand together and show solidarity with the victims' families and those injured.
Political rivals stand together
The presence of Nawrocki and Tusk was particularly significant given their political differences and often strained relationship.
Their participation offered a rare public display of unity at a time when Poland is struggling to come to terms with the violence.
Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said the gathering demonstrated that people with different political views could still find common ground during difficult moments.
The organisers deliberately kept the ceremony free of political speeches, allowing the public to express their grief through silence and remembrance.
At 8pm, the traditional bugle call from St Mary's Basilica marked the beginning of the gathering. Candles were placed at the three locations associated with the killings.
The march concluded near the Town Hall Tower, where a trumpeter performed The Sound of Silence. Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, the Archbishop of Krakow, then led prayers for those who died.
Six people killed in shooting
The march followed Saturday's attack, in which a 24-year-old man opened fire in the city's busy Main Market Square, killing six people and injuring 15 others, according to authorities.
The victims included Polish citizens, a British man and an Austrian woman. Two police officers were among those seriously injured while confronting the attacker.
The suspected gunman, identified by prosecutors as Michał Oksiński, died in hospital early on Monday after being shot by police.
Investigators also found the bodies of his parents and sister at the family's home in the town of Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski. Preliminary findings indicate that they may also have been killed by him.
Authorities have not yet established what motivated the attack. Although initial statements raised the possibility of far-right ideological influences, prosecutors have urged the public not to conclude before the investigation is complete.
Investigation continues as Poland mourns
The investigation is continuing despite the suspect's death, with authorities examining evidence to establish whether he acted alone or was influenced by other individuals or groups.
The shooting has also prompted renewed debate about gun ownership and public safety. The government has announced plans to review the rules governing firearms permits.
Poland's national mourning period covered 8 and 9 November, while Krakow's own period of remembrance is due to continue until 11 November.
For many participants, Monday's march was an opportunity to honour the victims, support grieving families and show that the tragedy would not divide the community.
The sight of thousands walking together, including the country's highest political leaders, offered a moment of solidarity in a city still coming to terms with one of its darkest recent tragedies.
