Polish Mayor Fighting For His Life After He Was Stabbed On Stage
Pawel Adamowicz, the mayor of the northern Polish city of Gdansk who has served as mayor of the city since 1998, was resuscitated at the scene and rushed to a nearby hospital where he underwent five hours of surgery after being stabbed on stage in an apparent assassination.
Doctors described his condition as “critical” and “serious” after the attack.
One of the surgeons, Dr. Tomasz Stefaniak, said Adamowicz suffered a “serious wound to the heart, a wound to the diaphragm and to the internal organs” and had needed a huge amount of blood. The city of Gdansk is holding a blood collection for Adamowicz on Monday and a rally against violence.
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.”
“Shocked to hear of the attack on Pawe? Adamowicz, Mayor of Gda?sk, this evening,” the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, wrote on Twitter. “Sending best wishes for his swift recovery, and solidarity to the city he leads, his family and supporters.”
In the video, Pawe? is seen addressing the crowd before a man with a knife rushed on to the stage during the finale of a charity event and stabbed the mayor in the abdomen, leaving him in very serious condition.
The alleged assailant who has been identified as 27-year-old Stefan W from Gda?sk was arrested at the scene.
Mr. Stefan who has a criminal record and had carried out bank robberies is said to have gained access to the stage with a media badge.
