MAINZ, Germany — A gunman reportedly opened fire and barricaded himself in a German movie theater complex on Thursday, according to local media.
The Bild newspaper was among those reporting on the incident in Viernheim, about 40 miles south of Frankfurt. It said special forces were on the scene.
Footage from outside of the theater showed heavily armed police strapping on bulletproof vests and running towards the building as sirens blared.
Heavily-armed police run outside of the movie theater complex in Viernheim, Germany. Alexander Scheuber / Getty Images
Local police told NBC News they were unable to comment as the situation was developing.
It was not immediately clear if there were any injuries or fatalities.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/gunman-viernheim-germany-opens-fire-move-theater-reports-n597676
Updated 10:58 AM ET, Thu June 23, 2016
(CNN) A mass shooting at a cinema in Viernheim, Germany, has left at least 25 people injured, German public TV reported Thursday.
I think guns are getting the better of our better angels.
What kinds of laws do they have there about guns? And if it wasn't guns, what do we outlaw next? Kool-aid? Cow shit? At what point do we address the cause instead of the tool? What do we do about the cause? How do we fix that?
Cable news now reporting gunman didn't shoot anyone. Injuries were the result of law enforcement tear gas.
This just off NBC News: Local Interior Minister Peter Beuth told a parliamentary debate that initial reports suggested that a gunman fired several shots, took hostages and was later shot dead by police.
There were no other injuries and the hostages are all safe, police confirmed to NBC News.
Initial descriptions make it sound like the shooter was a mental case.
One German news report described him as "confused".