Mayor Stabbed in Germany — What Officials Reveal So Far Leaves More Questions Than Answers

Ambulance and police cars near Iris Stalzer stabbing site, Herdecke, Germany, Tuesday. (Alex Talash/AFP/Getty Images)

Berlin — October 8, 2025 - Iris Stalzer, the newly elected mayor of the western German town of Herdecke, was stabbed multiple times outside her home on Tuesday, leaving her in critical condition and prompting Chancellor Friedrich Merz to denounce the "heinous attack" as a shocking act of violence against a public servant. The 54-year-old Social Democrat (SPD) was rushed to a hospital in nearby Dortmund after the assault, which occurred just weeks after her September election victory.

Stalzer, who secured 52% of the vote in the runoff to become Herdecke's first female mayor, was found with at least 13 stab wounds to her upper body around 10 p.m. local time. Emergency responders performed CPR at the scene before airlifting her to the hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery and remains under intensive care as of Wednesday morning. Police described the attack as targeted but have ruled out a political motive, classifying it instead as a possible familial dispute.

A 24-year-old man was arrested shortly after the incident and identified as Stalzer's adopted son. He was taken into custody at the family home without resistance, and a special homicide unit from North Rhine-Westphalia state police is leading the investigation. Authorities recovered a knife at the scene and are conducting forensic tests, but no formal charges have been filed pending Stalzer's condition stabilizing. The suspect, who lives in the household, has not commented, and his lawyer requested privacy.

Herdecke, a town of about 26,000 residents located 15 km (9 miles) east of Dortmund, has been reeling from the news. Local SPD chapter leader Michael Breuer called Stalzer a "committed fighter for social justice" who had focused her campaign on affordable housing and community integration. "Iris embodies the values we cherish—this attack wounds us all," Breuer said in a statement.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), addressing the Bundestag on Wednesday, expressed "deep shock" over the stabbing, labeling it a "heinous act" that threatens democratic institutions. "We fear for the life of the designated mayor, and we demand a swift, thorough investigation," Merz said, urging nationwide solidarity with Stalzer's family and the Herdecke community. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser echoed the sentiment, pledging federal support for local law enforcement and vowing to combat rising violence against politicians, which has surged 20% in Germany since 2021 per Interior Ministry data.

The assault comes amid heightened concerns over attacks on public officials, including a July 2024 knife attack on a candidate in Mannheim that killed a police officer. Germany's Federal Crime Office reported 2,790 incidents of political violence in 2024, a 15% increase from the prior year, though most targeted far-right extremists rather than local leaders.

As Stalzer fights for her life, vigils are planned in Herdecke's town square, with residents lighting candles in support. Police have increased patrols in the area, and the investigation continues. Updates on her condition are expected later Wednesday, but for now, a nation holds its breath for one of its own.