Newly Elected Herdecke Mayor Stabbed, Life-Threatening Injuries Reported

Iris Stalzer, the newly elected mayor of Herdecke, Germany, was found critically injured with multiple stabbing wounds at her home, prompting a large police operation. Stalzer, a 57-year-old member of the centre-left Social Democrats, was set to take office on November 1 and has a background as a labor lawyer and local politician. Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the attack as an "abhorrent act" and expressed hope for her full recovery. The motive remains unclear, but the incident has raised concerns about politically motivated violence in Germany, recalling previous attacks on public officials such as the 2019 assassination of Walter Luebcke. Stalzer was discovered by her son, who was present at the scene along with her daughter, and authorities have cordoned off the area to gather evidence. The community and political leaders are urging swift justice as investigations continue into this alarming act of violence against a public official.