Police have located the getaway car of a 56-year-old hunter suspected of fatally shooting two people, including a local mayor, in Upper Austria’s Mühlviertel region.

The discovery was confirmed by officials on Friday morning.

The killings, which took place on Monday, have sparked a massive manhunt as the suspect remains on the run. The motive is thought to be linked to a dispute over hunting rights.

Around 250 officers are involved in the search, including specialist units like Cobra and rapid-response teams, with substantial technical support in place.

The Upper Austrian Provincial Police Directorate announced that the suspect’s vehicle was found hidden in a forested area of Rohrbach district, close to where the killings occurred in Altenfelden/Fraunschlag.

According to police spokesperson David Furtner, the area had already been searched immediately after the shootings. How the vehicle came to be there remains part of the investigation. The Crime Scene Unit from the State Criminal Police is now examining the car for potential evidence.

Police have reiterated that they are “searching for a very dangerous individual,” and certain people considered at risk are under protection. The search operation is currently focused on the area around the village of Arnreit, which is connected to one of the incidents.