At Least 25 Injured in Mass Shooting in German Cinema, Suspect Dead: Reports
At least 25 people were injured in a mass shooting in a German cinema on Thursday, according to multiple reports.
A federal law enforcement official tells PEOPLE that it is believed the gunman is dead. It is not clear whether those injured were hurt by gunfire or another cause.
The official tells PEOPLE the incident took place in the Kinepolis Cinemaplex in Viernheim, Germany. According to preliminary information, an armed, masked gunman opened fire in the theater and was barricaded inside.
Viernheim is approximately 40 miles south of Frankfurt.
• Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.
The officials says "it's too soon to say with certainty" whether it was a terrorist attack but that it's a likely possibility.
The cinema is part of a major shopping center which has more than 100 businesses and draws more than 20,000 daily visitors, according to CNN.
Peter Beuth, Minister of the Interior and Sports for the German state of Hesse, told the BBC, "The police thought that the gunman was holding hostages and because of that he was shot dead."
Beuth also said, "The police had an emergency call at 2:45pm. The caller said there was a masked man... armed with a long gun. It is unclear whether it was a real gun."
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
