On June 23, 2016, a masked man stormed the Kinopolis Cinema complex in Viernheim, Germany's Hesse region. The man entered the complex shortly after the start of the first screenings of the day at about 3p,m., wearing a mask and carrying what appeared to be a a gun and a munition belt. He reportedly fired into the air as he entered the cinema. ^[-1]

"The police had an emergency call at 2:45pm [12:45 GMT] with a caller saying there was a masked man armed with a long gun.

According to Peter Beuth, a German politician: "The caller heard four shots and said that the masked man appeared a little mentally unstable. Police special forces were called." ^[7]

German authorities confirmed that the attacker was killed during the police operation, however, at least 50 people in the cinema were said to be injured due to the gunman's use of tear (CS) gas.

The suspect entered the cinema and was subdued at 5 p.m. by the German Spezialeinsatzkommandos (SEK) ^[3]The suspect's weapons were fake. ^[6]