Crystal Dike
Newly elected mayor of Herdecke, Iris Stalzer, 57, remains in critical condition after being stabbed multiple times near her home in western Germany on Tuesday, prompting a major police investigation.
Stalzer, a member of the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), was found with serious chest and abdominal injuries shortly after midday. Police say she was treated at the scene before being airlifted to a hospital in Bochum, where she is receiving intensive care.
Authorities have confirmed that no political motive has been established so far. Investigators are focusing on a possible family link, after Stalzer’s two adopted children — a 17-year-old daughter and a 15-year-old son — made the emergency call and were later taken in for questioning.
According to media reports, the 15-year-old son claimed his mother had been attacked by a group of men. However, this account has not been independently verified. Bild reported that the teenager was seen handcuffed and wearing an evidence-preserving suit as police continued their forensic work at the family home.
Security sources told reporters that an earlier incident of domestic violence had been recorded within the family during the summer, involving the daughter threatening her mother with a knife.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the stabbing as “a heinous act,” expressing hope for Stalzer’s full recovery. The SPD said it was “deeply shocked,” while Herdecke’s First Deputy Mayor, Dennis Osberg, described the attack as “devastating” and wished her a speedy recovery.
Police sealed off the area around Stalzer’s residence and launched a large-scale investigation, calling for calm as they examine all possible motives.
Stalzer narrowly won the September 28 mayoral election, securing 52.2 percent of the vote in a runoff, and was due to be sworn in on November 1, 2025.
As of Wednesday morning, no arrests have been officially announced, and Stalzer’s condition remains life-threatening.