A Polish mayor has died today after being stabbed on stage during a charity event in an attack condemned as an act of “inexcusable barbarity” by European leaders.
Pawel Adamowicz, 53, mayor of Gdańsk, fell clutching his stomach after being repeatedly knifed by a convicted criminal last night in the city.
He was attending the finale of the annual Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity event, which raises money for childrens' hospitals, when the attack took place.
Doctors resuscitated Mr Adamowicz on the spot and transported him to the hospital, where he had five hours of surgery in which he was given 41 units of blood.
Polish President Andrzej Duda paid tribute to the politician on Twitter.
He said: "Mr. President Paweł Adamowicz has gone.
"I combine regret and prayer with his closest friends and all men of good will.
"Please Lord God support for the deceased family.
"Hostility and violence brought tragedy and pain. We are not allowed to reconcile."
Police seized a Kandar military knife with 14.5 cm long blade from his alleged 27-year-old attacker, who has been named by them as Stefan W and has been detained.
He reportedly said the Civic Platform party, which led the previous government and had supported Mr Adamowicz's re-election, had wrongfully imprisoned him.
He was jailed for five years and six months but was released from prison in December, according to the police.
They said he had accessed the stage using a media badge, and they are investigating how he acquired it.
Mr Adamowicz had been mayor of the city for 20 years.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also paid tribute to Mr Adamowicz on Twitter in a touching Polish message.
He said: "A devastating loss for the inhabitants of Gdańsk, friends and family of President Adamowicz and all of us who value public service, progressive policy and open, accessible to all democracy.
"The thoughts, prayers and solidarity of London are with Gdansk on this sad day."
