A town’s newly elected mayor, Iris Stalzer, was discovered at her residence with stab wounds, sparking suspicions that the attack may have been carried out by her teenage daughter, according to detectives. Stalzer, 57, who won the mayoral election in Herdecke, a town in western Germany, on September 28 and was set to assume office on November 1, was found injured outside her house in what was initially reported as an attempted robbery by her daughter.
Responding to the emergency call, police arrived at the scene to find Stalzer seated with multiple stab wounds, indicating that the attack likely occurred indoors. She was promptly airlifted to a hospital for treatment. Following an investigation update, authorities confirmed that Stalzer is now stable and attention has turned towards her 17-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son, who were detained after the discovery of knives and clothing believed to be linked to the assault.
During questioning, Stalzer identified her daughter as the suspected assailant, although details regarding the family conflict leading to the stabbing remain undisclosed. Law enforcement officials refrained from speculating on a motive, categorizing the incident as a case of bodily harm. Plans are in place to release the children into the custody of the youth welfare office while the inquiry progresses.
The assault on Stalzer, a legal professional affiliated with the Social Democrats, drew condemnation from various figures, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Despite her recent electoral victory over a Christian Democrat candidate, investigators have ruled out any political motives behind the attack. Herdecke, a town with approximately 23,000 residents situated between Hagen and Dortmund, saw heightened police activity post-incident, with Stalzer being airlifted for medical care.