Dozens injured as masked 'gunman' attacks German cinema

At least 25 people were injured by tear gas after a gunman entered a cinema in Germany on Thursday.

The attacker, who has yet to be identified, reportedly walked into the busy Kinopolis in Viernheim in the German region of Hesse with an alarm gun. He then barricaded himself in the German cinema with several people inside but did not injure anyone. 

All of those injured may have been suffering the effects of tear gas fired by police, with some reports saying that up to 50 people could had been injured. 

The attacker has now been killed in a struggle with police, Hesse state interior minister Peter Beuth said without giving further details. 

He was said to be masked and was carrying ammunition, although the description has not been confirmed by police.

According to local media, the gunman came into the complex at about 3pm local time. The motives for the incident are still not clear. Police sources told Germany daily Der Spiegel that the attacker is not known to have any links to terrorist groups.