The newly-elected mayor of a city in western Germany is in crucial situation after a stabbing attack outdoors her residence, native media reported Tuesday.
Iris Staltzer, a 57-year-old mom of two youngsters, was discovered with life-threatening accidents at round noon native time within the Ruhr metropolis of Herdecke, and has been airlifted to hospital, police informed NCS.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated his authorities had acquired information of the “heinous crime.”
“We fear for the life of the mayor-elect, Iris Stalzer, and hope for her full recovery. My thoughts are with her family and loved ones,” Merz stated on X.
Stalzer, standing for the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), was elected mayor of Herdecke in a runoff vote on September 28. She is because of take workplace in November.
The metropolis administration in Herdecke stated it was in “shock and disbelief,” with out offering additional particulars of the attack, which was reported by German tabloid Bild and native public broadcaster WDR. Authorities haven’t confirmed a motive.
There has been a string of assaults on German politicians lately. The nation was rocked by the 2019 homicide of Walter Lübcke, a neighborhood authorities official who supported the pro-refugee insurance policies of then-Chancellor Angela Merkel. Lübcke was shot useless by a neo-Nazi whereas smoking a cigarette on the terrace of his home. His attacker is now serving a life sentence.
This is a growing story and shall be up to date.