Mercedes co-operating with police after gunman leaves two dead at Stuttgart factory
Shooter now in custody
A lone gunman has killed two people in a shooting at Mercedes-Benz’s Sindelfingen plant near Stuttgart, south-west Germany.
Initial reports stated that one person had been killed and another injured in the incident yesterday morning (May 11), however it was later confirmed that the second victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
The gunman is reported to be 53 years old while the two victims were said to be aged 44. Mercedes confirmed that all three worked for the same external contractor. Investigations are ongoing.
It has been confirmed that the gunman was overpowered by security staff working for Mercedes-Benz before emergency services were called to the plant early in the morning. Mercedes said there is no longer any danger to the population of, and its colleagues in, Sindelfingen.
Police commandos sealed off the assembly hall where the incident took place, while two helicopters and ambulances attended the scene.
The shooting took place at Factory 56, Mercedes-Benz’s most high-tech facility at Sindelfingen. The plant was opened in 2020 and is the site responsible for the production of the Mercedes S-Class and its luxury Maybach derivative, the recently revealed new E-Class saloon, and the electric EQS and EQE models.
Factory 56 is also the home of Mercedes-Benz’s design, development and corporate research operations.
While the assembly hall where the incident took place was closed, production at the rest of the plant continued. More than 35,000 people work at the site.
In a statement Mercedes-Benz said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic news from Sindelfingen. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and all colleagues on site.
“Emergency services and emergency chaplains are on site for psycho-social aftercare of colleagues.
“We are in close contact with the authorities and fully support their investigations.”
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