After two men were shot dead at the Mercedes factory in Sindelfingen near Stuttgart on Thursday, a motive for the suspected shooter, who is of Turkish origin, is feverishly sought. There is also speculation in the Turkish media about the reason for the bloody act – which is said to have been preceded by a dispute over the upcoming presidential election. In a TikTok video, the 53-year-old suspect also said that if necessary, one should “take back” his freedom.
The suspect Murat D. is in custody – an arrest warrant has been issued for manslaughter in two cases. According to focus.de, the fatalities are two 44-year-old men named Ayhan B. and Özkan K.
Suspect explained “that you have to fight back”
The victims and the alleged shooter were employed by the external service provider Rhenus. The dead are said to have been supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – the suspect, however, of his competitor Kemal Kilicdaroglu of the opposition CHP party. Earlier, Murat D. published another video on TikTok. In it he explained: “If your freedom is threatened, you must take it back,” reported the newspaper “Bild”. According to a colleague, he often talked about politics and said “that you have to defend yourself”.
The suspect felt oppressed by superiors
Another colleague also reported tensions between the manager who was shot and the suspect. “Murat felt oppressed, but maybe he was just imagining it,” he tells “Bild”.
Mercedes-Benz was “deeply dismayed and shocked” by the crime. That happened in production hall 56, where the S-class is produced, among other things. “We have decided to stop work here until the end of the week,” says a company spokesperson. However, the hall was released again by the authorities, it was a voluntary decision by the car manufacturer.
Plant security overpowered suspected shooter
According to the police, the shots were fired while production was running near the foreman’s offices. Factory security eventually overpowered D., who then allowed himself to be arrested by the police without resistance – just minutes after the first emergency call, which the emergency services had received around 07:45. The murder weapon was secured, but police have so far gone unnoticed as to what kind of weapon it was and how many shots were fired.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
