A recently elected mayor is in critical condition after reportedly being stabbed 13 times in a horrifying assault by multiple individuals, with one of her children allegedly taken away by authorities. Iris Stalzer, a politician, was discovered severely injured by her 15-year-old son in her residence in Herdecke-Herrentisch, Germany.
The 57-year-old was found with numerous knife wounds to her abdomen and back. Emergency services promptly responded to the incident in the North Rhine-Westphalia region, providing urgent medical attention to the elected official for her severe injuries.
The far-right political party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has denounced the vicious attack, emphasizing that violence has no place in the country. They called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and expressed hopes for Stalzer’s recovery.
According to reports, Stalzer, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) mayor of Herdecke, sustained life-threatening injuries from around a dozen stab wounds in her chest and stomach. She was airlifted to a hospital in Bochum, where she remained in critical condition.
In a recent Instagram post, Stalzer celebrated her electoral victory, securing 52.2% of the vote in the mayoral election. She expressed gratitude for the support and trust placed in her for the betterment of Herdecke and the surrounding area.
Matthias Miersch, the leader of the Social Democrats’ parliamentary group in Berlin, conveyed shock at the news of the stabbing, expressing hopes for Stalzer’s recovery. The mayor’s children alerted emergency services to the attack, detailing that she had been assaulted by multiple men.
Law enforcement initiated a manhunt for the alleged culprits but has not confirmed any arrests yet. Reports indicate that Stalzer’s adopted daughter was involved in a prior knife attack on her mother, prompting authorities to investigate a potential connection to the recent incident.
The Herdecke police have transferred the investigation to a homicide squad to uncover the motive behind the stabbing. Stalzer’s children were present during the attack and cooperated with the authorities, with her son reportedly being taken into custody as a precaution to preserve evidence.
The city administration expressed shock and concern over the incident, extending well wishes for Stalzer’s recovery and emphasizing that further details are part of the ongoing police inquiry. The newly elected mayor, who had just assumed office, faces a challenging road to recovery following the brutal assault.