Grave Wound Strikes German Mayor-Elect After Horrific Stabbing

The quiet town of Herdecke, Germany, has been rocked by a grave wound to its political fabric after its newly elected mayor, Iris Stalzer, was found on Tuesday with severe, life-threatening stab wounds. The horrific incident has drawn immediate condemnation from the highest levels of German government and sparked a massive police investigation, which currently appears to be focused on a personal motive rather than a political one.

Life in Danger for Social Democrat Politician

Herdecke, Germany (October 7, 2025)

Iris Stalzer, 57, a member of the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), was elected mayor of the small town in western Germany’s Ruhr region on September 28 and was due to take office on November 1. She was reportedly discovered badly wounded in her home shortly before 1 p.m. local time on Tuesday by one of her teenage children.

The mayor-elect was rushed to a hospital by helicopter and is currently in critical condition, fighting for her life. Authorities have not publicly confirmed the total number of stab wounds, though some media reports indicated the politician had been stabbed multiple times, specifically in the back and stomach.

 * Immediate Discovery: Ms. Stalzer’s teenage son reportedly found her gravely injured inside their home and called emergency services.

 * Conflicting Accounts: Initial reports suggested the mayor-elect told her son she had been attacked by several men on the street and managed to drag herself home. However, police and prosecutors are investigating all angles.

 * Suspect Development: A joint statement from the police and prosecutors initially stated there were “no indications of a politically motivated act,” adding that a “family connection was presumed.” They confirmed that Stalzer’s two adopted teenage children were taken in for questioning as part of the evidence-gathering and investigation process. Earlier reports also noted that there had been a prior incident of alleged domestic violence involving a knife and one of her children earlier this year.

High-Level Condemnation and Public Shock

The attack sent shockwaves through the German political landscape. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), who leads the conservative-led national government in which the SPD is the junior partner, publicly condemned the crime.

“We have received news of a terrible deed in Herdecke,” Chancellor Merz wrote on social media, describing the assault as an “abhorrent act.” He added: “We fear for the life of Mayor-elect Iris Stalzer and hope for her full recovery.”

The SPD’s parliamentary group leader, Matthias Miersch, also expressed deep concern, stating, “Our thoughts are with her and we hope she survives this terrible crime.”

The incident comes against a backdrop of increasing hostility toward local politicians in Germany, prompting some to initially suspect a political motive. However, the current police focus suggests the attack may be rooted in deeply personal or domestic issues. A special homicide commission has been established to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the brutal attack.

Headline Points

 * Victim: Iris Stalzer (57), Mayor-elect of Herdecke (SPD).

 * Location: Herdecke, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

 * Incident: Found with life-threatening stab wounds in her home.

 * Condition: Critical; airlifted to hospital and is fighting for her life.

 * Motive: Investigators currently suspect a family connection and see no political motive.

 * Investigation: The victim’s two adopted teenage children were taken in for questioning.

 * Response: Condemned as an “abhorrent act” by Chancellor Friedrich Merz.