On Tuesday, the recently elected mayor of a town in western Germany was discovered in her residence, critically injured with multiple stab wounds to her neck and abdomen.
According to her 15-year-old son, and reported by Reuters, citing German outlet Bild, Iris Stalzer, 57, a center-left Social Democrat who was elected mayor late last month, managed to enter her home after reportedly being assaulted by several men.
However, investigators stated that “close family involvement cannot be excluded at this time,” leading to Stalzer’s son and 17-year-old daughter being questioned.
The identity of the person who alerted the police and the speed of their arrival remain unknown, although officers swiftly cordoned off the street outside her house and initiated an immediate inquiry.
The designated mayor of Herdecke, a town of approximately 20,000 residents in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state bordering Belgium and the Netherlands, was transported by helicopter to a nearby medical facility.
Reports indicate that the assault on Stalzer occurred following an exceptionally contentious election where she unseated a conservative incumbent.
While authorities have yet to identify a motive for the assault, Stalzer is the most recent politician to be targeted amidst an alarming pattern in Germany.
Last year, multiple German officials were attacked during campaign activities, and Reuters reported that roughly 60% of German politicians have experienced violence at least once, leading to increased apprehension among public figures regarding their safety in public.
Germany’s Chancellor commented on the news of the assault via a post on X, describing it as “an abominable act.”
“We are concerned for the life of designated mayor Iris Stalzer and wish for her full recovery. My thoughts are with her family and relatives,” he stated, having also demanded an investigation.
Police authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia were unavailable for immediate comment concerning this report.