German mayor survives brutal attack perpetrated by her adopted daughter

Berlin.— The mayor of the German city of Herdecke, Iris Stalzer, 57, is hospitalized after being stabbed and tortured for hours by her 17-year-old adopted daughter. According to the report, the attack occurred on Tuesday in the basement of Stalzer's residence, located in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The official told the authorities that her daughter physically assaulted her and tried to set her hair and clothes on fire using an aerosol and a lighter. Forensics determined that before the emergency call, the young woman had tried to clean up the crime scene, as few traces of blood were found at the scene. In the backpack of the other adopted son, 15 years old, a knife and clothes with blood stains were found, presumably belonging to the teenager. The mayor, who recently took office, has 13 stab wounds to the upper body —between the abdomen and back—, but doctors say she is no longer in mortal danger, although she will have to remain hospitalized for a while.

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According to reports, Stalzer had requested help from the authorities months ago, after an argument with his daughter that involved domestic violence and a knife. The two minors are in the custody of the Juvenile Welfare Office while the authorities assess the circumstances of the case. So far, an arrest warrant has not been issued, as the alleged aggressor was the one who called the emergency services, which could qualify the act as bodily injury with withdrawal from the act and not as attempted murder. Initially, reports indicated that Stalzer had been attacked by several men, but the version was discarded after the victim's own statements. The police are continuing investigations to determine the motives behind the violent incident that has shocked the community of Herdecke.