Germany cinema shooting: Gunman shot dead after attack at Viernheim cinema

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Louise Thomas

Editor

An armed man who entered a cinema in Germany has been shot dead, according to local media reports.

The man was reported to have entered the cinema wearing a mask and carrying arms, before taking hostages. He was shot during the police operation that followed, according Germany's interior ministry.

Police stormed the complex soon after reports of a heavily-armed man had taken hostage inside the cinema complex in Viernheim, according to local reports that cited the German interior minister of the state of Hesse.

Though previous reports had said that 20-50 people had been wounded when the gunman opened fire, it isn't clear whether or not the man actually used any of the weapons he stormed the cinema with.

Local reports also suggested that all other injuries had been sustained during the police operation, when officers used tear gas.

Spokeswoman Christiane Kobus had earlier said she couldn't give further details of what was happening. She was not able to confirm unsourced German media reports that an armed man had entered the movie theater and fired at least one shot.