World affairs

A midnight premiere screening of The Dark Knight Rises in the US has turned tragic as local media in Colorado are reporting that 14 people have been killed after a mass shooting.

It is believed that as many as 50 cinemagoers were injured during the shooting, while a bomb squad was despatched to the site of the Century 16 cinema in Aurora, Colorado. One suspect - an Indian male - is being held in custody, though it is unknown as yet if other suspects were involved.

"The number of injured is unclear right now," BNO News journalist Al Boe told IBTimes UK on Twitter. "An explosion definitely went off but early reports said shots were fired. Multiple injuries".

Though the actual nature of the attack is still to be determined by local press, it is being reported that one device was detonated inside the screening, while a possible secondary device was discovered in the parking lot.

The most detailed eyewitness description of the incident has been posted to local radio station KS1075's Facebook page, in which a "Michael S" writes: "We were 20 mins into the movie when the fire alarms started going off. We thought it was a prank. Then emergency intercom came on say there was a situation and we need to evacuate immediately.

"Next thing we know there was a police officer was outside the emergency exit with a shotgun yelling at us to run as far away from the theater as possible. We run out. There were people covered with blood every where with what looked like bullet wounds. Kids were crying. It was a terrible scene.

"Talked to some people, they are saying a man came into one of the theaters threw an explosive device and started shooting. Keep them in your prayers"