Newly Elected Herdecke Mayor Critically Injured in Multi-Assailant Stabbing

Iris Stalzer, the newly elected mayor of Herdecke in western Germany and a member of the Social Democrats party, was severely stabbed by multiple men near her home and is currently fighting for her life. She was found by her son in her apartment with multiple stab wounds after being attacked on the street, and emergency services are conducting a major operation to save her. The attack has drawn national shock and a large-scale police manhunt is underway, though the motive remains unclear. Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the attack as heinous and expressed his hope for her full recovery. This incident recalls past politically motivated violence in Germany, raising concerns over safety for public officials. Authorities continue their investigation, with no official comment yet on the potential political background of the assault.