Germany: Newly elected Herdecke mayor in critical condition after stabbing PHOTO

In Germany, the newly elected mayor of Herdecke, Iris Stalzer, is in critical condition after being stabbed multiple times in her home in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

According to Bild, emergency services discovered the 57-year-old Social Democrat politician severely injured on October 7 in her residence in the Herdecke-Herrentisch district, Caliber.Az reports, citing German media.

She reportedly sustained several stab wounds to her abdomen and back.

Stalzer’s two adopted children, a 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl, were in the house at the time of the incident and alerted emergency services. Police later took the 15-year-old into custody. Investigators said the measure was initially taken to preserve forensic evidence and should not be interpreted as an immediate accusation.

The teenager reportedly told police that his mother had been attacked by several men on the street. However, the exact circumstances remain unclear.

Paramedics and doctors are said to be fighting to save Stalzer’s life.

Police have launched a large-scale operation in the area, and a homicide unit has been assigned to the case. Authorities have not ruled out any motive and say it is too early to determine whether the assault was politically motivated.

By Aghakazim Guliyev