The mayor of Herdecke, a small town in western Germany, is fighting for her life after being stabbed outside her home on Tuesday evening.
According to local media reports, 57-year-old Iris Stalzer was attacked by multiple assailants, though the motive behind the assault remains unclear. Police have launched an investigation and are conducting a manhunt for the attackers.
Stalzer had recently been elected mayor of the Ruhr region town on September 28, making the violent attack all the more shocking for residents. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, coming just days after she took office.
As reported by BILD, Stalzer was discovered seriously injured by her son inside their apartment in Herdecke-Herrentisch, North Rhine-Westphalia. She had suffered multiple stab wounds to her stomach and back.
Before losing consciousness, Stalzer reportedly told her son that she had been attacked by several men on the street. Emergency responders rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she remains in critical condition under intensive care.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the attack, calling it an “abominable act.” In a post on X, he wrote:
“We are anxious about the life of the designated mayor Iris Stalzer and hope for her complete recovery. My thoughts are with her family and her relatives.”
Authorities have appealed to the public for information and are reviewing nearby CCTV footage to identify the suspects. The attack has reignited concerns about the safety of public officials in Germany, amid a rise in violence and threats against local politicians.
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