12 people killed after shooting at The Dark Knight Rises screening in Denver

A gunman has opened fire on cinema-goers at a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Denver, Colorado, killing at least 12 people and leaving 50 injured.

The shooting took place at the premiere of the new Batman movie at the Century Theater in the Aurora Mall.

Eyewitnesses reported that a man wearing body armour and a gas mask opened fire in the cinema theatre and set off what may have been a tear gas bomb.

The gunman attacked two separate screenings within the same cinema complex, which initially prompted suggestions that there was an additional gunman.

Police later confirmed they had arrested 24-year-old man James Holmes and said there was no evidence of any additional shooters.

Aurora police chief Dan Oates said: ‘Witnesses tell us he released some sort of canister. They heard a hissing sound and some gas emerged and the gunman opened fire.’

The gunman was found in possession of a gas mask and two firearms, while ammunition was found in the suspect’s car.He also said that 10 people were killed in the cinema, while four died of their injuries in hospital, but the death toll has now been revised down to 12.A local TV station has reported that the youngest person injured was three months old.

Mr Oates also revealed that the gunman had told police that there are explosives in his home and that an apartment block had been evacuated as a consequence.

Police have now confirmed the apartment is ‘booby-trapped’.

Mr Oates said the explosive devices were ‘pretty sophisticated’, saying that police could be at the scene ‘for days’.A bomb squad had also investigated a vehicle in the cinema car park and checked all cars as a precaution.

The gunman is thought to have launched his attack at 12.30am local time, just as trailers before the film had finished.

Brenda Stuart, from 850 KOA Radio, told Sky News: ‘A lot of people thought the gunshots were part of the movie. Then bullets started flying.’

Eyewitness Paul Otermat, who was in the cinema where one of the attacks took place, said the gunman came through the emergency exit, threw a tear gas canister and then opened fire.

‘There were children at that show,’ he said.

‘It was really crazy. He just walked in pretty casually. He just started firing. We waited until there was a lull in the firing, then we crawled out of there.

‘A lot of people just dropped to the floor, a lot of people made a mad dash to the exits.’

While the motive for the attack is still unclear, the FBI say their investigations have so far found no link to terrorism.

President Barack Obama said he was ‘shocked and saddened’ by the shootings, saying in a statement: ‘We are committed to bringing whoever was responsible to justice, ensuring the safety of our people, and caring for those who have been wounded.

‘As we do when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family.

‘All of us must have the people of Aurora in our thoughts and prayers as they confront the loss of family, friends, and neighbours, and we must stand together with them in the challenging hours and days to come.’

Speaking in Florida, he said the tragedy ‘reminds us of all the ways we are united as one American family.’

He added they would do ‘whatever is necessary’ to bring ‘whoever is responsible to justice’.

PICTURES: Denver shooting during Dark Knight Rises screening

VIDEO: Footage of the scene at Denver, Colorado