A Masked gunman has been shot dead by Police after opening fire inside a cinema in Western Germany

 

A masked gunman has been shot dead by police after storming a German cinema complex and opening fire.

The man entered the cinema complex in Western Germany at about 3pm carrying a gun and munition belt.

The gunman apparently entered the Kinopolis cinema 'Rambo-style' with a gunbelt of cartridges draped across his shoulder and his weapon in his hand. 

It was gathered that the gunman had fired blank four shots before barricading himself inside. 

As people ran from the cinema screaming he opened fire and unleashed tear gas.

At least 20 people are thought to have been injured when tear gas was released into the confined space. 

The interior minister of the state of Hessen, Peter Beuth, announced the perpetrator's death in the state parliament in Wiesbaden. 

He said: '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.

'The caller heard four shots and said that the masked man appeared a little mentally unstable. Police special forces were called.'

Credit: dailymail