Kurt Cobain death: Seattle Police release images of gun Nirvana frontman used in suicide

It is not clear why the pictures have been released now

Kurt Cobain's daughter Frances Bean Cobain is making a new documentary about his life (Getty Images)

Seattle police have released photos of the shotgun Kurt Cobain used to kill himself more than two decades after his death.

The Nirvana frontman’s body was found on 8 April 1994 and his death was ruled a suicide. In the photos published on Wednesday, Detective Mike Ciesynski is shown holding the gun Cobain used to kill himself at different angles.

Detective Mike Ciesynski holding the shotgun that Kurt Cobain is alleged to have used to commit suicide. Kurt Cobain's body was found at his Seattle home on 08 April 1994. His death was ruled a suicide by investigators. (AP/ EPA)

Police say the photos were taken in June 2015, added to the city of Seattle's computer system on 3 March and were then added to the investigative file, according to the Associated Press.

Seattle Police have already released images showing evidence found at the scene of his death after several rolls of undeveloped film that were taken at his home were discovered ahead of the 20th anniversary of his death.

Cobain’s widow Courtney Love and their daughter Frances Bean Cobain went to court in July 2015 to prevent the release of pictures and records from the scene of his death after a lawsuit launched by Richard Lee, who claims Cobain was murdered. His suit was dismissed.