A Polish mayor died on Monday after a convicted criminal stabbed him while on stage at a charity event.

Gdansk Mayor Pawel Adamowicz, 53, grabbed his belly and collapsed after being stabbed in the abdomen multiple times in front of the audience on Sunday night.

The attack happened during the "Lights to Heaven" fundraiser organised by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, Poland’s most important charity. The assailant made no attempt to flee and instead grabbed a microphone to address the audience while waving his knife in the air.

Mr Adamowicz was taken to a hospital where he underwent five-hours of surgery. However, on Monday hospital officials said that the mayor had succumbed to his injuries.