Man causes alarm in German city centre with plastic gun

With Germany on edge after the attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg, a man with a gun caused alarm in the northern city of Hamelin on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old man was reportedly walking through a busy pedestrian zone in the city centre with a plastic gun, said a police spokeswoman.

The area was also the location of Hamelin's Christmas market, although it was closed at the time.

The man did not threaten anyone, and there was no specific danger, but the toy gun appeared like a real weapon.

Police were reportedly deployed with numerous officers following several reports from passers-by.

The man was taken to the police station and then admitted to a psychiatric hospital, according to the spokeswoman.