A Polish mayor has died in hospital a day after being stabbed in the chest at a charity event, the authorities have said.

Pawel Adamowicz, the mayor of Gdansk, was on stage when he was attacked.

Witnesses said the 53-year-old was holding his stomach immediately afterwards.

Polish police confirmed last night they had detained a suspect following the incident.

According to Wyborcza, the attacker grabbed a microphone and told the crowd that he was falsely put in prison.

He reportedly shouted: ‘My name is Stefan. I was in prison, despite my innocence. I was tortured.’

The mayor had just finished delivering a speech when the man ran on stage, onlookers said.

Interior minister Joachim Brudzinski wrote online that the attack had been an act of ‘inexcusable barbarity’.

The president of the European Council Donald Tusk, who is from Gdansk, has paid tribute to his ‘good friend’.

He wrote: ‘Paweł Adamowicz, Mayor of Gdańsk, a man of Solidarity and freedom, a European, my good friend, has been murdered.

Mr Adamowicz had been the mayor of Gdansk, one of Poland’s largest cities, since 1998.

In 2014, he also became the recipient of the Cross of Freedom and Solidarity to honour his contributions to the democratic opposition in Poland during the Communist Period. </s> Mayor of Gdansk Pawel Adamowicz is in a critical condition after being stabbed at a charity event. The long-time mayor was standing on stage when a man rushed towards him and stabbed him with a knife. The suspect is reported to have shouted that he spent five years in prison because of the mayor’s former political party, Civic Platform. The man has been detained and Adamowicz is undergoing surgery. </s> WARSAW (Reuters) - Pawel Adamowicz, the liberal mayor of the Polish city of Gdansk, died on Monday of his wounds, a day after being stabbed by a man who rushed the stage during a charity event.

“We couldn’t win,” Poland’s health minister Lukasz Szumowski told reporters via private broadcaster TVN. Doctors had operated on Adamowicz for five hours, state news agency PAP said.

Adamowicz was attacked while attending the annual Great Orchestra of Christmas charity, a fundraiser where volunteers collect money for medical equipment in hospitals.

Television footage showed a man screaming “Adamowicz is dead!” as he rushed the stage and stabbed the mayor, who crumpled to the floor.

Speaking on the stage before he was arrested, the man accused the mayor’s former party of putting him in prison and said he was tortured.

The attacker has been identified by Polish authorities as a 27-year-old named Stefan. His full name has so far been withheld.

The charges against the attacker should be changed from attempted murder to murder, said a spokeswoman for the Gdansk prosecutor’s office after Adamowicz’s death, according to PAP.

Politicians across the political spectrum in Poland condemned the stabbing, including members of the ruling nationalist Law and Justice Party (PiS), such as Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Interior Minister Joachim Brudzinski. Adamowicz was an outspoken opponent of PiS.

“I’m expressing great pain for the tragic death due to the criminal attack on mayor Pawel Adamowicz. We express solidarity with his family,” Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the country’s ruling party leader was quoted as saying in a tweet from the party spokeswoman.

Polish President Andrzej Duda will meet with political party leaders on Monday to organize a march against violence and hatred in the wake of the attack.

Adamowicz stood out for his initiatives to encourage migrants to seek refuge in the northern Polish city, and for his support of a protest campaign defending the rule of law in Poland against PiS efforts to increase its control over the judiciary and other bodies.

Adamowicz was one of Poland’s longest-serving mayors, holding his position in Gdansk since 1998. In the 2018 regional election, he won 65 percent of votes. </s> WARSAW (Reuters) - Pawel Adamowicz, the liberal mayor of the Polish city of Gdansk, died on Monday of his wounds a day after being stabbed by a former convict who rushed the stage during a charity event.

“We couldn’t win,” Poland’s health minister Lukasz Szumowski told reporters via private broadcaster TVN. Doctors had operated on Adamowicz for five hours, state news agency PAP said.

Adamowicz was attacked while attending the annual Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, a fundraiser where volunteers collect money for medical equipment in hospitals. The head of the charity resigned soon after Adamowicz’s death was announced.

Television footage of the attack showed a man screaming “Adamowicz is dead!” as he rushed the stage and stabbed the mayor, who crumpled to the floor. Speaking on the stage before he was arrested, the attacker accused the mayor’s former party of putting him in prison, where he said he was tortured.

The attacker has been identified by Polish authorities as a 27-year-old named Stefan, who was released last month from prison where he had been serving a 5 1/2 year sentence since 2014 for attempting to steal from banks in Gdansk. His full name has so far been withheld.

Psychiatrists will now assess if the attacker can be held criminally responsible for his actions, prosecutor Krzysztof Sierak said at a press conference.

Politicians across the political spectrum in Poland condemned the stabbing, including members of the ruling nationalist Law and Justice Party (PiS), such as Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Interior Minister Joachim Brudzinski. Adamowicz was an outspoken opponent of PiS.

“I’m expressing great pain for the tragic death due to the criminal attack on mayor Pawel Adamowicz. We express solidarity with his family,” Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the PiS leader, was quoted as saying in a tweet from the party spokeswoman.

Polish President Andrzej Duda will meet with political party leaders on Monday to organize a march against violence and hatred in the wake of the attack.

Adamowicz stood out for his initiatives to encourage migrants to seek refuge in the northern Polish city, and for his support of a protest campaign to defend the rule of law in Poland against what activists consider efforts by the PiS to increase its control over the judiciary and other bodies.

Adamowicz was one of Poland’s longest-serving mayors, holding his position in Gdansk since 1998. In the 2018 regional election, he won 65 percent of votes. </s> A Polish mayor who was left fighting for his life after he was stabbed on stage during a charity event has died of stab wounds.

Pawel Adamowicz, the mayor of the Polish city of Gdansk, died after being stabbed on stage at a Polish charity event, Poland's health minister said today.

He grabbed his belly and collapsed in front of the audience after he was attacked with a sharp tool last night.

The attacker reportedly shouted from the stage that he had been wrongly imprisoned when the mayor's former party was in power.

'That's why Adamowicz dies,' the attacker said as he brandished a five-and-a-half inch knife (14.5cm) knife.

The liberal mayor was attacked while attending the annual Great Orchestra of Christmas charity, a fundraiser where volunteers collect money for medical equipment in hospitals.

Television footage showed a man screaming 'Adamowicz is dead!' as he rushed the stage and stabbed the mayor.

Speaking on the stage before he was arrested, the man accused the mayor's former party of putting him in prison and said he was tortured.

Doctors operated on Adamowicz for five hours after the incident, Poland's state news agency PAP said.

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Krzysztof Sierak said today five prosecutors have so far questioned 20 witnesses and are preparing to question the 27-year-old suspect who lived in the city.

Sierak said there are 'doubts' as to the mental state of the attacker, who will undergo a psychiatric examination from two psychiatrists.

Prosecutors are also looking into the level of security at Sunday's public event which was the 27th annual festive collection for the popular charity.

Polish Justice Minister, Zbigniew Ziobro, says prosecutors are looking closely at the trial five years ago of the man accused of stabbing the mayor of Gdansk and wounding him severely.

The suspect in last night's stabbing was convicted of involvement in bank robberies and served the 5-year prison term in full.

Mr Ziobro, who is also the country's chief prosecutor, said Monday the term was not very high given the crime, and noted the man was refused parole three times.

Ziobro, a prominent figure in the right-wing government, said he found no words to describe the 'evil' of this 'terrible event.'

He said the thoughts and prayers of everyone were with Mr Adamowicz's family, and expressed hope that his life will be saved, but said everything is in the hands of 'providence.'

Poland's president said he had initially been told 'there is hope' for the mayor's survival after doctors reanimated his heart, but said his condition was 'very difficult'.

But a doctor earlier today said he lost a lot of blood and suffered oxygen deprivation in a knife attack.

'Despite all our efforts, we failed to save him,' Doctor Tomasz Stefaniak, director of Gdansk's University hospital said, quoted by the Polish PAP news agency.

The mayor underwent five hours of surgery after suffering wounds to his heart and internal organs after the attack by an ex-convict who said it was political revenge on a party Adamowicz formerly belonged to.

Politicians across the political spectrum in Poland condemned the stabbing, including members of the ruling nationalist Law and Justice Party (PiS), such as Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Interior Minister Joachim Brudzinski. Adamowicz was known as an opponent of PiS.

Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the country's ruling party leader was quoted as saying in a tweet from the party spokeswoman, said: 'I'm expressing great pain for the tragic death due to the criminal attack on mayor Pawel Adamowicz. We express solidarity with his family.'

Polish President Andrzej Duda will meet with political party leaders today to organise a march against violence and hatred in the wake of the attack.

Adamowicz stood out for his initiatives to encourage migrants to seek refuge in the northern Polish city, and for his support of a protest campaign defending the rule of law in Poland against PiS efforts to increase its control over the judiciary and other bodies.

Adamowicz was one of Poland's longest-serving mayors, holding his position in Gdansk since 1998. In the 2018 regional election, he won 65 per cent of votes.

Anti-violence rallies are being planned nationwide after Sunday's shock attack on Mayor Pawel Adamowicz.

Lukasz Szumowski told local press, according to private broadcaster TVN: 'We couldn't win.'

Interior minister Joachim Brudzinski last night called the stabbing, 'an act of inexplicable barbarity'.

Medical officials appealed for blood donations as Mr Adamowicz was taken to a hospital where he underwent surgery last night.

A Polish broadcaster said a man had rushed on stage at around 8pm and said the mayor was seen holding his belly.

Radio Gdansk reported that Mr Adamowicz was stabbed near his heart as the attacker shouted from the stage.

Adamowicz later underwent surgery, deputy mayor Piotry Grzelak was quoted as saying by the PAP news agency.

Earlier he boasted on Facebook that he hadd raised £5,000 for the event.

'Thank you sincerely everyone who threw money into my can and helped beat my personal record,' Mr Adamowicz wrote.

Mr Adamowicz has been mayor of Gdansk, a port city on the Baltic coast, since 1998.

He was part of the democratic opposition born in the city under the leadership of Lech Walesa during the 1980s which helped to bring down the Communist regime.

As mayor, he is seen as a progressive voice and has supported LGBT rights and tolerance for minorities.

He showed solidarity with the Jewish community when the city's synagogue had its windows broken last year, strongly denouncing the vandalism.

European Council President Donald Tusk, a former Polish prime minister, wrote on Twitter: 'Let's all pray for Mayor Adamowicz. Pawel, we are with you.'

President Andrzej Duda said yesterday that while he and the mayor have had political differences, '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'.

The fundraising event was organised by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, Poland's most important charity.

It raises money for medical equipment Poland's cash-strapped health care system has trouble providing. </s> WARSAW, Poland — The mayor of a city in Poland was stabbed Sunday while he was on stage during the finale of a large charity event and he was transported to a hospital, officials and Polish media reported.

Gdansk Mayor Pawel Adamowicz was attacked with a sharp tool during the “Light to Heaven” charity event, charity spokeswoman Magdalena Skorupka-Kaczmarek, told Polish news agency PAP.

She said there was no immediate word about the mayor’s condition at the hospital. Adamowicz has been mayor of Gdansk, a Baltic port city, since 1998.

Polish broadcaster TVN24 said that around 8 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) a man rushed the stage and shouted something. It says the mayor was seen holding his belly.

TVN24 says a suspect was detained. Other Polish media reported that a knife was used in the attack.

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. </s> The mayor of Polish port city Gdansk has been stabbed on stage while attending a large charity event.

He was immediately rushed to hospital, according to officials.

Mayor Pawel Adamowicz (pictured) was attacked with a sharp tool during the “Light to Heaven” charity event, spokeswoman Magdalena Skorupka-Kaczmarek, told Polish news agency PAP.

She said there was no immediate word about the mayor’s condition.

Mr Adamowicz has been mayor of Gdansk since 1998.

It was reported that a knife was used to attack the mayor.

Gdansk, about 3.5 hours from Poland’s capital Warsaw, is one of the country’s largest cities, with a population about 570,000.

More to come. </s> Gdansk Mayor Pawel Adamowicz has died from stab wounds a day after he was attacked onstage by an ex-convict at a charity event, Poland's health minister said Monday.

Lukasz Szumowski said the doctors who were fighting to save Adamowicz's life informed him the mayor had died.

The Twitter account for the City of Gdansk also announced the death.

A surgeon earlier said Adamowicz, 53, suffered wounds to the heart, diaphragm and other internal organs.

"The fight for his life has been lost," Szumowski said.

The death of Adamowicz, a six-term mayor who often mingled freely with citizens of his city, sent Poland into shock.

Even before his death was announced, rallies against violence were being planned to take place across Poland in the evening. In Gdansk, the city flag was lowered to half-mast and a mass was planned for later in the day.

The right-wing ruling Law and Justice party faced accusations from critics that an atmosphere of hatred against Adamowicz and others liberal political opponents helped instigate the attack.

He became mayor in 1998. After leaving the Civic Platform party, he was re-elected to a sixth term as an independent candidate in the fall.

Donald Tusk, the European Council president from Poland, was among those expressing sorrow on social media: "Paweł Adamowicz, Mayor of Gdańsk, a man of Solidarity and freedom, a European, my good friend, has been murdered. May he rest in peace."

According to witnesses, the suspect shouted from the stage in Gdansk that he had been wrongly imprisoned under a previous national government led by Civic Platform.

Identified as a 27-year-old man, he had been previously convicted of involvement in bank robberies and served the 5½-year prison term in full.

Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro said Monday he found no words to describe the "evil" of this "terrible event."

Deputy chief prosecutor Krzysztof Sierak said there are "doubts" as to the mental state of the attacker, who used a 14.5-centimetre knife.

Adamowicz collapsed in front of the audience during the "Lights to Heaven" fundraiser organized by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity.

The attack triggered an outpouring of solidarity, with many people donating blood in Gdansk on Monday. Some said they were given time off work to do so.

The spokesperson for the ruling Law and Justice party, Beata Mazurek, said the attack should be "absolutely condemned by all, regardless of what side of the political spectrum they are on."

She insisted politicians in Poland need "greater responsibility for words, for deeds" because "there is no shortage of madmen on both sides" of the political scale.

Ruling authorities also sent a government plane to transport the mayor's wife, who had been travelling, from London back to Gdansk.

As mayor, he was a progressive voice, supporting sex education in schools, LGBT rights and tolerance for minorities. He showed solidarity with the Jewish community when Gdansk synagogue had its windows broken last year, strongly denouncing the vandalism.

Adamowicz also advocated bringing wounded Syrian children to Gdansk for medical treatment. The plan, however, was blocked by the Law and Justice government. After he took that stand, a far-right group, the All-Polish Youth, issued what a "political death notice" for Adamowicz.

The last politically motivated attack in Poland was in 2010 in Lodz when a man shouting he wanted to kill Law and Justice Leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski fatally shot an aide to one of the party's European Parliament lawmakers.

Kaczynski, at the time an Opposition leader, blamed the attack on an "atmosphere of hate" under Civic Platform. </s> WARSAW, Poland (AP) - The mayor of a city in Poland was stabbed Sunday while he was on stage during the finale of a large charity event and he was transported to a hospital, officials and Polish media reported.

Gdansk Mayor Pawel Adamowicz was attacked with a sharp tool during the "Light to Heaven" charity event, charity spokeswoman Magdalena Skorupka-Kaczmarek, told Polish news agency PAP.

She said there was no immediate word about the mayor's condition at the hospital. Adamowicz has been mayor of Gdansk, a Baltic port city, since 1998.

Polish broadcaster TVN24 said that around 8 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) a man rushed the stage and shouted something. It says the mayor was seen holding his belly.

TVN24 says a suspect was detained. Other Polish media reported that a knife was used in the attack.

FILE - In this Saturday, April 21, 2018 file photo, the mayor of Gdansk, Pawel Adamowicz addresses a rally organized in protest against a recent gathering by far-right groups in this Baltic coast city, in Gdansk, Poland. A private broadcaster in Poland is reporting that a man attacked 53-year-old Mayor Pawel Adamowicz while he was on stage on Sunday Jan. 13, 2019, for the finale of the charity event in the Baltic city. (AP Photo/Wojciech Strozyk, File)
Paweł Adamowicz, the Mayor of Gdańsk, Poland, dies in hospital of stab wounds after an attack at a charity event the night before.