MOSCOW, January 18 (RIA Novosti) - An Italian businessman was stabbed in Moscow Wednesday and died of blood loss, local police said Wednesday.

The assault on Paolo Antinari, 53, took place Wednesday afternoon on Mantulinskaya Street in central Moscow.

"Two unidentified people pulled the Italian out of his car through a broken window, and then stole two suitcases, supposedly containing money, from the car," the police said.

"One of the attackers then stabbed the man into the groin area, leaving him to die from blood loss," the police said.

Earlier reports said the attackers had cut in in front of Antinari's Nissan car and opened fire.

Prosecutors who have launched an inquiry said the Italian had been involved in shoe trade and was returning from an international shoe exhibition.