Masked Gunman Shot Dead By Police After Opening Fire At A Cinema In Germany

VIERNHEIM, GERMANY – JUNE 23: Heavily-armed police outside a movie theatre complex where an armed man has reportedly opened fire on June 23, 2016 in Viernheim, Germany. According to initial media reports, the man entered the cinema today at approximately 3pm, fired a shot in the air and barricaded himself inside.

An unidentified man was on Thursday shot dead by police after he opened fire in a German cinema complex.

The incident took place at the Kinoplex Cinema in the town of Viernheim, near Frankfurt at about 3PM, CNN reports.

According to Hesse Interior Minister Peter Beuth, Police received reports of four shot fired at the cinema by a masked man.

“The assailant moved through the cinema complex, according to the information we have now, and appeared confused. There were hostages inside and there was a struggle (with police) until in the end he was dead,” Beuth said.

Police spokesperson Bernd Hochstaedter said that the police deployment lasted around three hours.

German security services currently believe the gunman to be a “confused individual” rather than a terrorist.

Photo Credit: Alexander Scheuber/Getty Images