Herdecke, Germany, Oct 8, (dpa/GNA) – The freshly elected mayor of the western German town of Herdecke, has suffered life-threatening injuries in a stabbing at her home, police said on Tuesday.
Iris Stalzer, 57, of the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), sustained multiple stab wounds. Police and the local prosecutor said there was “no indication of a politically motivated crime”, and investigators are considering a possible family-related motive.
The emergency call was made by Stalzer’s teenage children, aged 15 and 17, who found their mother injured in the house, security sources told dpa.
The law enforcement authorities said the minors remain in police care while the investigation continues, though it was not specified whether they are witnesses or suspects.
Police said Stalzer was initially responsive at the scene, and they were able to briefly question her. Her injuries were severe enough, that she then had to be airlifted to hospital.
Security sources noted to dpa, a domestic violence incident involving Stalzer during the summer.
Stalzer won the mayoral run-off in Herdecke last month during local elections in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. She defeated her conservative rival with 52.2% of the vote.
Stalzer, a lawyer, was scheduled to officially take office on November 1.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wrote on X: “We have received a message about a heinous crime in Herdecke. It must now be cleared up quickly. We fear for the life of designated mayor Iris Stalzer, and hope she makes a full recovery.”
“My thoughts are with her family and loved ones,” Merz added.
The SPD’s general secretary, Tim Klüssendorf, said the party was “deeply saddened by the news from Herdecke. “We fear for our comrade and mayor and our thoughts are with her relatives,” he added.
Herdecke, a small town on the Ruhr River, not far from the city of Dortmund, has a population of 22,500.
GNA