The newly elected mayor of a town in western Germany is in intensive care after being found with multiple stab wounds on Tuesday, in an attack that has shocked the country and reignited concerns over the safety of local politicians.
Authorities said Iris Stalzer, 57, was discovered with serious injuries at her home in Herdecke, a historic town in the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia. Broadcaster WDR reported that Stalzer managed to drag herself back into her house after being stabbed around midday.
According to Bild newspaper, she sustained wounds to her neck and abdomen.
Police and prosecutors said in a joint statement that all possible motives were being investigated, adding that “close family involvement cannot be ruled out at the present time.” The statement confirmed that Stalzer was airlifted to hospital and remains in intensive care.
The DPA news agency reported that her 15-year-old son and 17-year-old daughter had been taken in for questioning. Bild cited investigators saying that the son told police his mother had been attacked by several men, though authorities have not confirmed that account.
Police sealed off the road around Stalzer’s residence as forensic teams searched for evidence.
Stalzer, a Social Democrat (SPD) backed by the Greens, had recently won election as mayor and was due to take office in November after defeating a conservative incumbent. She is a well-known labour lawyer and long-time figure in local politics.
The attack comes amid a heated political climate in North Rhine-Westphalia, where local election campaigns have become increasingly hostile. Conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the assault and called for a swift and thorough investigation.
Although the motive remains unclear, the incident has drawn parallels with previous attacks on German politicians.
In 2019, regional official Walter Lübcke was murdered by a far-right extremist, and in 2015, Henriette Reker survived a stabbing by a right-wing extremist the day before being elected mayor of Cologne.
A study published in May found that 60% of German politicians have experienced some form of violence, with one in five saying it has made them more reluctant to appear in public, a statistic that underscores the growing risks faced by those in public office.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
