'We fear for her life': German town mayor found stabbed at home; Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemns 'heinous act'

In a shocking incident, a newly elected German town mayor was found badly wounded after she was stabbed severely on Tuesday. Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned it as a "heinous act".

According to public broadcaster WDR, the attack on Iris Stalzer, mayor of Herdecke, took place at around noon near her home.

"We fear for her life," Merz said on X.

The suspected motive behind the attack was not immediately known.

Stalzer, who belongs to the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), was just elected mayor on September 28.

The SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch said that "a few minutes ago, the newly elected mayor, Iris Stalzer, was stabbed in Herdecke".

"Our thoughts are with her and we hope she survives this terrible crime... We cannot comment on the background at this time, but we are more than deeply saddened."

The mayor was found seriously injured by her son in their home, according to the Bild daily.