A newly elected German mayor is fighting for her life after “being stabbed by multiple men”. Iris Stalzer, 57, was found in her apartment with multiple knife wounds to her stomach and back in her apartment on Tuesday (October 7).
Emergency services are at the scene of the incident at Herdecke, located in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany, treating the elected official for her “serious” injuries. She was reportedly found with 13 stab wounds to her abdomen.
The mayor of Herdecke reportedly told the authorities she had been attacked by “several men on the street” in front of her house, reports Bild.
Local police have issued an appeal for information on the incident. A homicide police squad has taken over the case and are “hunting” suspects but she is understood to still be alive.
It is unclear if there is a political motivation behind the attack.
Stalzer was elected the mayor of the Ruhr region city on September 28.
Responding to the “abominable act”, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “We have received a message about an abominable act from Herdecke. It must now be swiftly clarified. We are anxious about the life of the designated mayor Iris Stalzer and hope for her complete recovery.
