Rheine, Germany - A man shot dead his wife and two sons before turning his gun on himself, prosecutors said Thursday.

Police said the 38-year-old sent a text message to relatives Wednesday evening, warning that "a tragedy" was about to happen and urging them to come to his house in the west German town of Rheine.

When they arrived they peered through a window and saw the man's body.

After breaking down the door relatives discovered the body of the man's wife, aged 39, in the hallway.

Police later found the bodies of the couple's two sons in an upstairs room.

Prosecutors said the man left a farewell note in Turkish, asking to be buried in Turkey. Police found two handguns next to his body. (dpa)