They said nothing had been ruled out at this point, including a political motive.

Two 44-year-old employees of an external service provider were killed on Thursday when the suspect opened fire at the sprawling Mercedes factory site in Sindelfingen, near the city of Stuttgart.

One of the victims died on the spot, the other died a short time later in hospital.

The two victims and the suspect worked for Rhenus, a logistics firm.

Plant security staff overpowered the perpetrator, detaining him and handing him over to the police. He did not resist arrest.

A magistrate at the district court in Stuttgart issued arrest warrants for manslaughter against the suspect, a 53-year-old Turkish citizen.

Production in Hall 56, where the crime took place, remains halted for the time being. On Monday, there will be a minute’s silence at the plant in Sindelfingen, where around 35,000 people work, a Mercedes spokesman said.