THE NEWLY ELECTED mayor of a town in western Germany was found at her apartment today with serious stab wounds, German media has reported.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz said she was the victim of “an abhorrent act”.

Iris Stalzer was elected as mayor of Herdecke, a town just south of Dortmund, on 28 September.

She is a member of the centre-left Social Democrats, the junior party in Germany’s conservative-led national government.

In Berlin, 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.”

Map showing Herdecke, Germany The Journal - Google Maps The Journal - Google Maps

German news agency dpa, citing unidentified security sources, reported that she was found with life-threatening injuries and had several stab wounds.

Police officers at the scene in Herdecke, Germany. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Police said there was a large operation under way in Herdecke.

Merz wrote on social media that “we fear for the life of mayor-elect Iris Stalzer and hope for her full recovery”.

With reporting from AFP