(MENAFN) Newly elected Herdecke mayor Iris Stalzer is fighting for her life after suffering multiple stab wounds in a brutal attack, authorities confirmed Tuesday. The 57-year-old politician was discovered with life-threatening injuries inside her apartment in North Rhine-Westphalia, a region currently grappling with a surge in knife-related violence.

Police said no arrests have been made and the motive remains unclear. A large-scale investigation is underway.

Stalzer, a Social Democrat and experienced labor lawyer, secured office last month with 52.2% of the vote in a runoff election.

According to German outlet Bild, the mayor-elect was found by her 15-year-old adopted son, who told officers that “she had been attacked by several men outside her home before she dragged herself back into the apartment.” Her 17-year-old adopted daughter was reportedly also present during the incident.

Bild further reported that the boy was removed from the scene “in handcuffs and wearing an evidence-preserving overall,” with investigators stating the procedure was intended to “prevent evidence from being covered up.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reacted swiftly to the news, expressing concern and condemnation in a social media statement. “We fear for the life of the mayor-designate and hope for her full recovery,” he wrote, calling the stabbing “a terrible deed” and demanding it be “swiftly investigated.”

While police have yet to identify suspects or release further details, Der Spiegel has reported that a previous domestic incident involving Stalzer occurred earlier this year. The report alleges the 17-year-old adopted daughter had previously used a knife against her.

The attack comes amid a dramatic rise in knife-related crimes in North Rhine-Westphalia. Official statistics show knife offenses have soared by over 50% since 2020, with public-space stabbings more than doubling in the past five years. Nationwide data also reflects a consistent uptick in knife assaults and threats since 2022.

Authorities continue to maintain a heavy police presence in Herdecke and say updates will be released as the investigation progresses.

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