German Mayor Iris Stalzer was stabbed on October 7th, 2025, and her 15-year-old adopted son has been arrested by police in Herdecke. The boy, who was reportedly found by his mother and told police she was attacked by "several men" on the street, was taken into custody in a forensic suit, according to an update from DiscloseTV at approximately 1:07 PM UTC. Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed concern for Stalzer's life and recovery in a statement posted to X at approximately 12:56 PM UTC, stating, "We fear for the life of the designated mayor Iris Stalzer and hope for full recovery. My thoughts are with her family and their relatives." Stalzer, the newly elected SPD mayor of Herdecke, was reportedly found with stab wounds to her stomach and back, according to previous reports from Bild and WDR. The motive for the stabbing remains unknown. Stalzer had recently participated in a conversation titled "What should your social policy look like, Ms. Stalzer?" discussing her approach to troubled times and the chances of a small city administration. Legal politicians from the SPD have also confirmed a request to examine ban procedures for the AfD party, a separate political development. Previous reports indicated that Stalzer was found by her son outside her home. The incident occurred amidst broader political and security concerns in Paris, France, including reported explosions near the Prime Minister's office and a van fire, and a building collapse in Madrid, Spain, where four people were reported missing. French Minister Sébastien Lecornu was also reported absent from a meeting concerning the national budget and New Caledonia.
