On the 7th local time, Alice Stalze, the mayor of Herdecke, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, was stabbed and suffered multiple injuries, leaving her in critical condition.
German Chancellor Merz condemned the attack as a “shameless act” on the same day. Merz also posted on social media platform X, saying, “We are concerned for her life.”
Stalze, 57, a member of Germany’s Social Democratic Party, was just elected mayor of Herdecke in an election over a week ago. The attacker’s identity and motive are currently unknown. Local police are conducting a large-scale operation but have not provided further details.