Police have shifted their hunt for a violent couple implicated in robbery, kidnapping and a shooting incident to Groningen after efforts to trace them in Germany drew a blank.

Antonio Marcos van der Ploeg (25) and Enise Merve Bircan (19) are described by police as ‘highly dangerous’ and are being sought by Dutch and German police in the border area between the two countries.

The pair kidnapped a family in Enschede on Monday evening and took the father with them in his car. He was later freed in the German border town of Ahaus, while Van der Ploeg and Bircan drove off in his blue Honda CRV.

Tip-off

Police said on Wednesday they had been given tips about where the couple might be hiding but declined to give further information.

Family members have also made urgent appeals for the couple to give themselves up.

It has since emerged the couple were first held by police in late December after being caught driving a car with false number plates. They were later released from custody.