Three bodies have been found in the German village of Weitefeld some 60 kilometres east of Bonn, with a crime suspected as the cause, police told dpa on Sunday.

Police urged motorists not to pick up any hitchhikers in the region as they conducted a search for possible perpetrators. A large number of officers were called to the scene.

A dpa correspondent reported that special tactical police units with firearms and protective gear had been deployed to cordon off the area, and all cars travelling into and out of the area were being checked. A helicopter was also being sent.

Police said there was no immediate threat to residents.

A police spokesman declined to provide any further details beyond saying that a crime in the early hours of Sunday morning was suspected.