A newly elected mayor in Germany, Iris Stalzer, was found critically injured following a stabbing attack at her home, officials and local media report. Authorities in Hagen stated that they were called to Stalzer's residence in Herdecke, North Rhine-Westphalia, at approximately 12:40 p.m. on Tuesday. The 57-year-old mayor was discovered with multiple stab wounds and airlifted to a hospital in critical condition.
Police have launched a homicide investigation, and while they cannot rule out a family connection, there is no indication the attack was politically motivated. Investigators confirmed that Stalzer's minor children, a 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl, were present at the time and are currently in police custody as part of the investigation. The boy was reportedly seen handcuffed in a police vehicle at the scene.
Stalzer, a member of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), was elected mayor of Herdecke on September 28.
Police have launched a homicide investigation, and while they cannot rule out a family connection, there is no indication the attack was politically motivated. Investigators confirmed that Stalzer's minor children, a 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl, were present at the time and are currently in police custody as part of the investigation. The boy was reportedly seen handcuffed in a police vehicle at the scene.
Stalzer, a member of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), was elected mayor of Herdecke on September 28.
