An armed man who entered a cinema in Germany has been shot dead, according to local media reports.

The man was reported to have entered the cinema wearing a mask and carrying arms, before taking hostages. He was shot during the police operation that followed, according Germany's interior ministry.

Police stormed the complex soon after reports of a heavily-armed man had taken hostage inside the cinema complex in Viernheim, according to local reports that cited the German interior minister of the state of Hesse.

In pictures: Germany cinema shooting Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Germany cinema shooting In pictures: Germany cinema shooting A person escapes from a movie theatre complex Kinopolis, where an armed man reportedly opened fire in Viernheim Getty Images In pictures: Germany cinema shooting Heavily-armed police walk outside the Kinopolis Getty Images In pictures: Germany cinema shooting Police stand outside a parking garage next to a cinema in which an armed gunman reportedly barricaded himself in Vierheim EPA In pictures: Germany cinema shooting Police officers at the scene of the shooting in Viernheim Getty Images In pictures: Germany cinema shooting Police and passers by stand near to a cinema in Vierheim EPA In pictures: Germany cinema shooting German special police leave their car after a masked man with a gun and ammunition belt opened fire in a cinema complex in Viernheim REUTERS In pictures: Germany cinema shooting Police outside a cinema complex in Viernheim Getty Images In pictures: Germany cinema shooting Police officers stand outside the Kinopolis Getty Images In pictures: Germany cinema shooting A policeman runs outside a cinema complex in Viernheim Getty Images In pictures: Germany cinema shooting Police officers stand outside a cinema complex in Viernheim Getty Images

Though previous reports had said that 20-50 people had been wounded when the gunman opened fire, it isn't clear whether or not the man actually used any of the weapons he stormed the cinema with.

Local reports also suggested that all other injuries had been sustained during the police operation, when officers used tear gas.

Gunman opens fire and takes hostages at German cinema