A female mayor in Germany is fighting for her life after "being stabbed in an attack by multiple suspects".

Social Democrat Iris Stalzer was found seriously injured by her son in her apartment in Herdecke-Herrentisch, Germany.

The 57-year-old was discovered with multiple knife wounds to her stomach and back.

Emergency services rushed to her apartment in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of the country and treated the elected official for her "serious" injuries.

German outlet Welt reports she was stabbed more than a dozen times before being dragged back into her house.

A homicide squad is expected to take over the German police's investigation, which has made an urgent appeal for information, with it being unclear if there is political motivation behind the attack at this moment.

The force confirmed the newly elected mayor is fighting for her life in hospital.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wrote on X: "We have received a message about an abominable act from Herdecke. It must now be swiftly clarified.

"We are anxious about the life of the designated mayor, Iris Stalzer, and hope for her complete recovery. My thoughts are with her family and her relatives."

Emergency crews were seen rushing the politician into a rescue helicopter, shielding the 57-year-old before she was flown to the hospital in a critical condition.