A newly-elected mayor in Germany is fighting for her life after a stabbing attack outside her home. Iris Stalzer, 57, was elected as mayor of Herdecke on September 28th. She is a member of the center-left Social Democrats, the junior party in Germany’s conservative-led national government. Stalzer was found with life-threatening injuries and airlifted to a hospital. Police took her teenage adopted son and daughter away for questioning. She was discovered inside her apartment by her 15-year-old adopted son, with life-threatening injuries and several stabbing wounds on her stomach and back. Police have arrested the boy, who told officers that his mother was attacked outside their home by ‘several men on the street.’ The teenager called 911 alongside his 17-year-old adopted sister at 12:40pm, who was present in the apartment when authorities arrived. She was also questioned in the hours following the attack. Stalzer was taken to hospital by helicopter where she is receiving emergency treatment and is said to be in critical condition. Prosecutors and police said in a joint statement their inquiry was looking into every possibility and that close family involvement cannot be ruled out at the present time. Stalzer won a runoff vote to secure the election and is scheduled to take office in the small town on November 1st. The city administration in Herdecke said it was in “shock and disbelief,” without providing further details of the attack. Authorities have not confirmed a motive. In a later update, police said the investigation is “looking into all possibilities,” and that a family connection to the crime has not been ruled out. There has been a string of attacks on German politicians in recent years.