Herdecke Mayor Criticizes Public Commentary Following Knife Attack
Herdecke’s newly inaugurated Mayor, Katalin Stalzer, has expressed her disappointment with the swift public reactions from politicians and the media following a brutal knife attack at her home on October 7th. Stalzer, critically injured in the assault allegedly carried out by her 17-year-old adopted daughter, stated she felt a lack of consideration and believes legal boundaries were possibly crossed in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
The criticism comes as Stalzer formally begins her term this Saturday, despite still recovering from 13 stab wounds and numerous head injuries sustained during the attack.Her official inauguration is scheduled for November 4th. The case has drawn national attention, prompting immediate commentary – including a statement from Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz on X (formerly Twitter) calling the attack a “hideous act” – before details were fully known. Stalzer’s remarks highlight the tension between the public’s right to know and the need for sensitivity and accuracy in reporting, particularly in sensitive criminal investigations and personal tragedies.
“I am not a federal politician or a person who has any national meaning,” Stalzer said, adding, ”I think they could have been a little more considerate. I also think that legal boundaries were exceeded at one point or another, unfortunately.”
Stalzer consciously limited her media consumption while hospitalized, relying instead on direct communications received through her homepage, email, and postal mail as a “protective wall.” She acknowledged the fast-paced nature of current events but expressed difficulty with opinions formed based on limited facts.
