Attacker takes hostages in German cinema complex, releasing tear gas before being shot by police (UPDATE)

RT
Thu, 23 Jun 2016 14:55 UTC

© Rhein-Neckar Fernsehen / Facebook

A man has been killed by police after taking hostages and releasing tear gas inside a cinema complex in Viernheim, western Germany. Previous reports suggested the man fired a gun, injuring up to 50 people.

The interior minister of the German state of Hesse, Peter Beuth, confirmed that the man was shot and killed after police stormed the complex.

Beuth said the man was armed with a rifle. Previous media reports stated that the man was firing shots at people inside the building. Frankfurter Allgemeine reported that four shots were fired, and the Darmstadter Echo said that between 20 and 50 people had been wounded.

However, Focus later reported that the man was armed with a blank weapon, and that people were only hurt by tear gas.

Wearing a mask and a cartridge belt around his shoulder, the attacker entered the Kinopolis in Viernheim at around 3pm local time (13:00 GMT).

The shooter then barricaded himself inside the premises. Officers, including some from the SEC special task force, arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area.

Police confirmed to Germany's N-TV channel that the man appeared to have no terror background. Beuth referred to the man as a "disturbed individual."

Comment: Here's the newest version of events:

An armed man was killed by police after taking hostages inside a cinema complex in Viernheim, western Germany, local officials confirmed, adding that no one was hurt in the incident. Previous reports said the man had fired a gun, injuring up to 50 people.
...
"The police had an emergency call at 2:45pm (12:45 GMT). The caller said there was a masked man...armed with a long gun. It is unclear whether it was a real gun," Beuth told the Hesse parliament. "The caller heard four shots and said that the masked man appeared a little mentally unstable. Police special forces were called."