Germany's Mayor Seriously Wounded in Stabbing Attack, Authorities Report
A recently appointed municipal leader in western Germany has been attacked with a knife and suffered severe wounds close to her residence, police say.
Iris Stalzer, 57, is a member of the centre-left Social Democratic party (SPD) and assumed the mayoral role of Herdecke in the regional state in September.
Local police say a major operation is under way in the community. Investigators indicate all avenues are being explored, but they are not ruling out a family connection.
The Chancellor censured what he described as "a terrible crime", adding: "We fear for the life of the newly elected mayor, the victim, and hope for a full recovery."
The party expressed its members were profoundly stunned by the incident.
Authorities say her two children - a daughter, 17, and a teenage boy - made an emergency call to police at midday local time (11:00 BST).
The children were later taken away for questioning and evidence collection. A reporter at the scene observed a teenager getting into a police patrol car.
During the summer, there was an family conflict episode in the family, which was recorded by the police, security sources revealed.
- Mayor stabbed near home
- Critical condition reported
- Police investigation focuses on domestic angles
- Children alerted authorities
