The mayor of one of Poland’s biggest cities is fighting for his life after being stabbed at a charity event in front of thousands of horrified onlookers.
Pawel Adamowicz, of Gdansk, was onstage during the Light To Heaven event’s finale when a man ran up to him shouting, according to witness reports.
Panicked bodyguards are seen rushing to give the 53-year-old first aid, and reports state he was given CPR before being taken to hospital for emergency surgery.
The attacker reportedly grabbed a microphone and told the crowd he had previously been wrongly imprisoned.
The wound, inflicted at around 8pm, is said to be in the vicinity of Mr Adamowicz’s heart.
Initial reports claimed he had been struck with a sharp weapon at least twice.
Joachim Brudzinski, a member of the Polish parliament, described it on Twitter as a "barbaric" attack.
And Polish President Mateusz Morawiecki wrote: "The attack on Paul Adamowicz is worthy of the highest condemnation."
According to Radio Gdansk, the attacker has been arrested, but it is not yet known who he is.
The event was held in aid of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity – the biggest charity organisation in the country.
According to Wyborcza, the attacker grabbed a microphone and claimed to have been held in prison despite his innocence.
He reportedly shouted: "My name is Stefan. I was in prison, despite my innocence. I was tortured."
The mayor had just delivered a speech when he was attacked, onlookers said.
Police on the scene overpowered the man.
Mr Adamowicz, who is married with two children, has been mayor of the city since 1998.
Police spokesman Mariusz Ciarka said that a man had been detained and taken to a local police station, Wiadomsci reports.
Unconfirmed reports state that the suspect is 27 years old, but officials have yet to reveal any details about him.
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