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Police Kill Movie Theater Assailant in Germany Police Kill Movie Theater Assailant in Germany
(35 minutes later)
FRANKFURT — A masked, armed assailant attacked a movie theater in the German city of Viernheim on Thursday and was killed by elite police units that stormed the building, officials and the news media reported. FRANKFURT — A masked, armed assailant attacked a multiplex movie theater in the German city of Viernheim on Thursday and took hostages before he was killed by elite police units that stormed the building, officials and the news media reported.
There were initial reports that 25 people had been hurt in the mayhem but the number of casualties could not be confirmed. Some German news media said that the injuries were from police tear-gas and that the assailant had carried a weapon loaded with blank cartridges. Despite initial reports that up to 25 people had been hurt in the mayhem, Peter Beuth, the interior minister for the state of Hesse, said he had no information that anyone had been harmed.
Bernd Hochstädter, a spokesman for the police command in Southern Hessen, confirmed that the assailant had been killed. Speaking to the N-TV private news channel, Mr. Hochstädter said a special team had carried out the action. He said the team had approached the gunman, supported by local police officers. Some German news media reported that the injuries were from police tear-gas and that the assailant had carried a weapon loaded with blank cartridges. Mr. Beuth said the assailant had been armed with a long-barreled weapon, but it was not clear whether it was capable of firing live ammunition.
“Because the attacker had taken hostages, the special forces moved in on him and he was killed,” Mr. Beuth told the Hesse state legislature.
The assailant’s identity and motive were not clear. The authorities said there was no immediate indication the assailant had a terrorist background or motive. Mr. Beuth said the man appeared confused, suggesting he may have been mentally ill.
The multiplex was showing four mainstream American films: “The Jungle Book,” “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” “Angry Birds” and “Central Intelligence.” It was not clear which theater the assailant entered.
Bernd Hochstädter, a spokesman for the police command in Southern Hessen, told the N-TV private news channel that a special police team had carried out the action. He said the team had approached the gunman, supported by local police officers.
“A person with a gun entered the cinema,” Mr. Hochstädter said. The police were alerted and immediately surrounded the center.“A person with a gun entered the cinema,” Mr. Hochstädter said. The police were alerted and immediately surrounded the center.
The assailant’s identity and motive were not clear.
Viernheim is a city of about 33,000 people near Mannheim, which is known for its chemicals industry.Viernheim is a city of about 33,000 people near Mannheim, which is known for its chemicals industry.
Germany has not had terrorist attacks on the same scale as France or Belgium, but the police have foiled several plots and the country has been dreading that it, too, could become a target. The swift response reflected how Germany remains on edge in a heightened atmosphere of fears over terrorist attacks in Europe.
The country has not suffered attacks on the same scale as France or Belgium, but the police have foiled several plots and the country has been dreading that it, too, could become a target.