The mayor of Gdansk in Poland has been stabbed while on stage during a charity event.
Pawel Adamowicz was rushed to hospital where he is said to be in a 'serious condition' following the incident, which took place in front of hundreds of people during an event for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity.
According to Sky News, Adamowicz underwent five hours of surgery for injuries to his heart and abdomen - doctors have said 'the next hours will decide everything'.
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Dr Tomasz Stefaniak, from the Medical University of Gdansk, said today that the mayor is 'alive but is in a very serious condition'.
Police have said that the suspected attacker is a 27-year-old man with a criminal record. A spokesperson from the police said the man 'appeared to have mental health problems', and managed to get access to the stage with a media badge.
A report from Polish news outlet TVN claims that as the man got on to the stage he was shouting about being wrongly jailed by the previous government.
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According to the report, he said: "Hello! Hello! My name is Stefan. I sat innocent in prison, I sat innocent in prison. Civic Platform tortured me, and that's why Adamowicz is dead."
Poland's prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, posted on social media to say: "The attack on life and health of Pawel Adamowicz is worthy of the highest condemnation."
Polish president Andrzej Duda said: "Today I am unconditionally with him and his loved ones, just as I hope all of us compatriots are. I pray for his return to health and full strength."
London mayor Sadiq Khan also sent his best wishes via Twitter, writing: "Shocked to hear of the attack on Paweł Adamowicz, Mayor of Gdańsk, this evening. Sending best wishes for his swift recovery, and solidarity to the city he leads, his family and supporters."
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Shortly before the attack, Adamowicz had a shared a photo taken from the stage to his Instagram account, which showed hundreds of people gathered to take part in the annual Great Orchestra of Christmas event - a nationwide effort to raise cash for hospital equipment.
Topics: World News