By Peter Omopo
The newly elected mayor of Herdecke, a town in western Germany, Iris Stalzer, was found in her apartment on Tuesday with multiple stab wounds, in what officials have described as a “shocking and abhorrent act.”
According to reports by the German Press Agency (dpa), Stalzer sustained life-threatening injuries and was immediately rushed to a hospital after emergency responders found her severely wounded. She was later airlifted to a nearby trauma center for urgent medical care.
Stalzer, a member of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), had been elected mayor on September 28. Her party is part of Germany’s conservative-led coalition government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Police have launched a large-scale operation in Herdecke, though details about the suspected attacker or motive remain unclear. Authorities have yet to confirm whether the stabbing was politically motivated.
Chancellor Merz condemned the incident in a post on social media, writing:
“We fear for the life of Mayor-elect Iris Stalzer and hope for her recovery. This is an abhorrent act that shakes us all.”
German media footage showed rescue teams carrying Stalzer on a stretcher before she was airlifted by helicopter. The incident has sparked national outrage, with political leaders across the country calling for greater protection of public officials amid rising threats and hostility in local politics.
As investigations continue, police have urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security measures while they gather evidence at the scene.
