Police cars arrive at the scene of a hostage taking in movie theatre in Viernheim near Mannheim, southern Germany, Thursday, June 23, 2016. A gunman had been shot by police. (Simon Ribnitzky/dpa via AP) Police cars arrive at the scene of a hostage taking in movie theatre in Viernheim near Mannheim, southern Germany, Thursday, June 23, 2016. A gunman had been shot by police. (Simon Ribnitzky/dpa via AP)

Several people were wounded after a masked gunman carrying an ammunition belt opened fire inside a cinema complex in Viernheim, Germany, according to German paper Bild Daily. The incident took place at Kinopolis, a movie theater in southwestern Germany.

The man involved in the shooting has been reportedly neutralised by the elite forces. He reportedly barricaded himself inside, German media reported. The man was described as “disturbed”.

Police cars arrive at the scene of a hostage taking in movie theatre in Viernheim near Mannheim, southern Germany, Thursday, June 23, 2016. A gunman had been shot by police. (Simon Ribnitzky/dpa via AP) Police cars arrive at the scene of a hostage taking in movie theatre in Viernheim near Mannheim, southern Germany, Thursday, June 23, 2016. A gunman had been shot by police. (Simon Ribnitzky/dpa via AP)

Initial reports suggested that the injuries to around 20-50 people could have been caused due to tear gas.

“We believe that there were no injured people, and that the people who were in the cinema with the perpetrator could be freed uninjured,” Hesse Interior Minister Peter Beuth said.

Authorities said they had no information on the man’s identity or motive. Security sources quoted by DPA news agency said there was “no link to terrorism”.

“The assailant moved through the cinema complex, according to the information we have now, and appeared

confused,” said Beuth.

Police spokeswoman Christiane Kobus said she couldn’t give further details of what was happening at the Kinopolis movie theater in the town of Viernheim.

The police spokeswoman said they were investigating what type of weapon the assailant used, adding that it was possible it fired blanks.

(With inputs from agencies)

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