A masked man was shot dead Thursday after entering a cinema with a weapon in the western town of Viernheim, 75 kilometers south of Frankfurt, German authorities said.
The man, who was also carrying ammunition, barricaded himself inside Kinopolis theater and took several hostages. Police later shot him dead. No hostages were injured, local official Hesse Interior Minister Peter Beuth said.
"The assailant moved through the cinema complex, according to the information we have now, and appeared confused," he said.
Initial reports said that dozens of people were wounded and several shots were fired, and police dispatched heavily armed special units to the site. Officials said they had no information on the assailant's identity and motive.