A newly elected mayor in western Germany is in critical condition after being stabbed near her residence, police have reported.
Iris Stalzer, 57, affiliated with the center-left Social Democratic party (SPD), was recently elected as the mayor of Herdecke, located in North-Rhine Westphalia, this past September.
Local law enforcement has initiated a large-scale operation in the town. While investigators are pursuing all possible leads, they have stated that a family connection is among the possibilities being considered.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has denounced the incident as a “heinous act,” adding, “We are deeply concerned for the life of Mayor-elect Iris Stalzer and are hopeful for her complete recovery.” The SPD has expressed profound shock among its members.
Herdecke’s First Deputy Mayor Dennis Osberg conveyed his wishes for Stalzer’s “speedy recovery,” expressing his shock and dismay regarding Tuesday’s attack.
Stalzer, who narrowly won last month’s mayoral elections and had yet to be officially sworn in, sustained multiple injuries to her chest and abdomen, according to reports in German media.
Authorities stated that she received on-site medical attention before being airlifted via helicopter to a hospital in Bochum, a nearby city.
Law enforcement further stated that Stalzer’s two adopted children – a 17-year-old daughter and a 15-year-old son – placed an emergency call to authorities around midday local time (11:00 BST).
The children were subsequently taken in for questioning and forensic examination. A reporter at the scene observed a teenager entering a police vehicle.
Forensic specialists dressed in protective gear were also photographed arriving to examine the location.
Security sources have indicated that an incident of domestic violence within the family was previously recorded by the police this summer.
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