World affairs

Director of The Dark Knight Rises Christopher Nolan has spoken of the “profound sorrow” felt by the film’s cast and crew at the “senseless tragedy” that occurred in Colorado on Thursday night.

12 people were killed, 11 more remain critical and approximately 50 more people were injured as a result of the terrible tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, when 24-year old James Holmes is suspected to have entered a cinema during a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises, the latest instalment in the Batman trilogy, and embarked on a shooting spree that caused shockwaves throughout the world.

Commenting on the tragedy, director Christopher Nolan released a statement which read: “Speaking on behalf of the cast and crew of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, I would like to express our profound sorrow at the senseless tragedy that has befallen the entire Aurora community."

"I would not presume to know anything about the victims of the shooting but that they were there last night to watch a movie. I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime."

"The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me."

"Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families.”

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Holmes was dressed in the guise of the Joker character played by the late Heath Ledger in the last Batman movie and that he had said ‘I am the Joker’ to police after his arrest.

Since the attack, police in Aurora have attempted to gain access to Holmes’ apartment, which is said to contain a number of sophisticated booby traps. Holmes is believed to have purchased 6,000 rounds of ammunition and four firearms in the last two months.

Vigils have been held across Colorado since Thursday night as friends and relatives of the victims and residents of the state attempt to come to terms with the terrible tragedy.

The Paris premiere of the Dark Knight Rises has been cancelled as a mark of respect to the victims of the tragedy with Warner Brothers releasing a statement saying they were "deeply saddened to learn about this shocking incident".