German police probing the deaths of three people killed by crossbow bolts have today found two more bodies at one of the victim’s homes – 400 miles away.
A search of an apartment in Wittingen, northern Germany, uncovered the two female corpses.
The gruesome discovery came as detectives probed the mysterious deaths of a man and two women who were discovered on Saturday in the Bavarian town of Passau, close to the Austrian border.
Police confirmed they are investigating possible links between the Passau and Wittingen deaths.
The bodies of two women have been found at an apartment (pictured) in Wittingen, northern Germany today. Police are investigating possible links to the deaths of three people in Passau, Bavaria, 400 miles away on Saturday
Police agents walk in front of the building today. The dead women’s identities have not been released
A police officer arrives at the building where the bodies of two women were. The women were found dead in the apartment of one of three people who found dead in Passau
Police confirmed today they are investigating possible links between the Passau and Wittingen (picutred) deaths
An employee of a hotel in the town of Passau found three bodies and two crossbows in the room when the occupants did not respond to repeated knocking.
A third crossbow was later found in a bag but had not been used.
Police said the three victims were a 53-year-old man and two women aged 33 and 30. All of them were German citizens but their identities were not given.
It is understood the two bodies found in Wittingen were in the 30-year-old Passau victim’s apartment.
The guesthouse which stands near the Ilz river surrounded by trees in Passau, Bavaria, where two women and a man were found dead on Saturday. Police probing the deaths have since revealed that a further two corpses have been discovered in the town of Gifhorn
The man and the older woman were from the village of Berod in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in southwest Germany, while the younger woman was believed to be living in Wittingen.
It is understood they arrived separately on Friday and initially checked in without luggage.
But they returned to their cars later after the reception was closed to get the bags containing the crossbows.
One of the women had booked the triple room for 85 euros a night, without breakfast, for three nights.
Police said two crossbows were found in the room where three bodies were discovered with bolts sticking out of them on Saturday
Police said it is not clear what their relationship was, what happened inside the hotel room or how they died.
The man and the older woman were found lying in bed holding hands with multiple bolts in them.
The younger woman was lying on the floor and had one bolt in her.
According to local media, two crossbows were found in the room by police when officers searched the scene in the remote riverside hotel near the Austrian border.
It is not known how the three dead people knew each other and police are trying to establish the events that led up to their deaths
Bavarian police spokesman Stefan Gaisbauer said today there are no indications that anyone other than those found dead were involved, but that it is not yet clear what happened.
‘We assume that no other people were involved in the deaths of the three,’ he said.
A police statement said on Saturday: ‘At present, the reasons for the death of the three people are still completely open.
‘There are currently no indications of possible involvement of other persons.’
A hotel guest told German newspaper Bild: ‘It was a strange group.’
They said the bearded man wore a suit while the women were dressed in black.
They had all wished a ‘good evening’, taken glasses of soft drink and water, and disappeared into the second-floor room as rain fell outside.
Prosecutors have ordered an autopsy which is expected to take place by Tuesday.
Three dead people were found in the same room by a hotel employee in Passau, Bavaria, on Saturday
A junior manager who first alerted the police, told the German newspaper Berliner Morgenpost: ‘In the room of the dead people there were two crossbows.’
But a guest who was staying there the night in question told Passauer Neue Presse: ‘It was a completely quiet night.’
Some German media reported that the trio had booked to stay for three nights, without breakfast, and had already been there for two days when they were discovered.
Another guest told Frankfurter Allgemeine it was like a ‘bad thriller’, adding: ‘Imagine being the maid and discovering the bodies.’
By Saturday evening forensic officers had collected all the evidence they needed and the guesthouse was reopened for business.
Crossbows can be purchased legally in Germany by all people aged 18 or older.
The town is a popular tourist spot, especially for hikers heading into the Bavarian Forest.