A masked man who reportedly fired shots in a cinema complex in western Germany has been shot dead by police, the state’s interior minister has said. Peter Beuth told the state of Hessen’s parliament that police stormed the Kinopolis complex in Viernheim, near Frankfurt, after shots were reported.
“The police thought that the gunman was holding hostages and because of that he was shot dead,” he added.
At least 20 people are said to have been hurt.
Most were apparently suffering the effects of tear gas released as police stormed the complex. It is not clear whether anyone was wounded by the attacker.