Authorities in western Germany have launched an intensive manhunt following the discovery of three bodies inside a residential building in the small village of Weitefeld, located in the Westerwald district.
According to the German Press Agency, the suspect fled the scene just as officers arrived. A spokesperson for the police confirmed that the individual is currently at large, prompting an urgent response from law enforcement.
Residents of the surrounding area have been urged to remain indoors and avoid picking up any hitchhikers, local news outlets reported.
The village of Weitefeld, home to roughly 2,200 people, has been placed on lockdown as police cordon off the area and inspect vehicles entering or leaving.
Local media outlet Bild reported that a police helicopter has been deployed to aid in the search, and a special task force is now active at the scene.
Authorities received an emergency call at approximately 3:45 a.m. local time (2:45 a.m. BST), according to Bild. The victims, believed to be two men and one woman, were found inside what police have described as a family residence. While further details have not yet been confirmed, officials have not ruled out the possibility that one or more of the victims may have been minors.
Speaking to Der Spiegel, Weitefeld’s mayor Karl-Heinz Kessler expressed shock at the tragedy, saying he never imagined such violence could occur in the tight-knit village. “You know the people here in the village,” he said. Kessler noted that a woman, a man, and a teenage boy had been living in the home where the incident occurred.
As of now, police have not publicly identified the victims or the suspect, and the motive remains unknown.
M10News will provide updates as more information becomes available.
