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Batman US cinema shooting: 12 dead in Colorado | Batman US cinema shooting: 12 dead in Colorado |
(40 minutes later) | |
At least 12 people have been killed and dozens wounded in a shooting at a midnight cinema showing of the new Batman film near Denver, Colorado. | At least 12 people have been killed and dozens wounded in a shooting at a midnight cinema showing of the new Batman film near Denver, Colorado. |
Witnesses said a man wearing a gas mask opened fire after tossing a tear gas canister in the auditorium as movie-goers watched The Dark Knight Rises. | Witnesses said a man wearing a gas mask opened fire after tossing a tear gas canister in the auditorium as movie-goers watched The Dark Knight Rises. |
A 24-year-old local man was arrested in a car park nearby in possession of a rifle, handgun and knife. | A 24-year-old local man was arrested in a car park nearby in possession of a rifle, handgun and knife. |
Another gun was recovered from the theatre, in the city of Aurora. | Another gun was recovered from the theatre, in the city of Aurora. |
Police revised down the death toll from 14 earlier. They said about 50 people had been shot, including the deceased. | Police revised down the death toll from 14 earlier. They said about 50 people had been shot, including the deceased. |
'Booby-trapped home' | |
FBI sources named the gunman as Aurora resident James Holmes, a white American. They said no terrorism link had been established. | FBI sources named the gunman as Aurora resident James Holmes, a white American. They said no terrorism link had been established. |
Police said he had been a student at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver until he dropped out last month. | |
US President Barack Obama has spoken of his shock at the incident, which began at about 00:30 local time (06:30 GMT) at the Century 16 cinema multiplex. | US President Barack Obama has spoken of his shock at the incident, which began at about 00:30 local time (06:30 GMT) at the Century 16 cinema multiplex. |
Acting on information from the suspect, the authorities said they had discovered his home in the north of Aurora was booby-trapped with flammable and explosive material. | |
The apartment complex was evacuated as FBI agents and police used a fire engine ladder to reach the property, and put a camera on the end of pole to look inside. | |
Police chief Dan Oates said the massacre was "a horrific event". | |
"The shooting apparently went on for some time," he added. | "The shooting apparently went on for some time," he added. |
Witnesses said the gunman opened fire during an action scene in the summer blockbuster. | |
The gunman was described as wearing a bullet-proof vest and riot gear, an outfit similar to that of the villain Bane in The Dark Knight Rises. | |
There was chaos as movie-goers, some dressed in costume as heroes and villains, fled. | |
Ten people were killed at the cinema and two others died later in hospital of their wounds. | Ten people were killed at the cinema and two others died later in hospital of their wounds. |
Many ambulances attended the scene. | Many ambulances attended the scene. |
'Firing at random' | |
About 50 people, some in a critical condition, were taken to four hospitals. Several victims were reportedly suffering from the effects of chemical exposure from the canister thrown by the gunman. | |
The casualties included a four-month-old baby, who was released from hospital after treatment, and a six-year-old child. | The casualties included a four-month-old baby, who was released from hospital after treatment, and a six-year-old child. |
One witness said the gunman had been "slowly making his way up the stairs and just firing - picking random people". | |
Another witness, Chayyiel Jackson, told the BBC: "During the first action scene in the movie, on the right side a dude came in all blacked out, with a black mask. At first we thought it was part of the movie event. | Another witness, Chayyiel Jackson, told the BBC: "During the first action scene in the movie, on the right side a dude came in all blacked out, with a black mask. At first we thought it was part of the movie event. |
"He threw tear gas across the crowd and after that people started to panic. He pulled out a rifle and started shooting. | "He threw tear gas across the crowd and after that people started to panic. He pulled out a rifle and started shooting. |
"I was wondering if this was real life or a dream." | "I was wondering if this was real life or a dream." |
It is reported that some of the shots fired went through the wall and may have hit people in an adjacent auditorium. | It is reported that some of the shots fired went through the wall and may have hit people in an adjacent auditorium. |
Another eyewitness, identified only as Pam, told the BBC: "He fired a canister into the air. It shot it right into the air, then I started to hear the bang, bang, bang of a gun. | Another eyewitness, identified only as Pam, told the BBC: "He fired a canister into the air. It shot it right into the air, then I started to hear the bang, bang, bang of a gun. |
"I crawled my way through the row. Luckily the exit was close to where I was sitting so I got out pretty fast. I heard more shots as I left." | "I crawled my way through the row. Luckily the exit was close to where I was sitting so I got out pretty fast. I heard more shots as I left." |
Another eyewitness, Salina Jordan, 19, told the Denver Post she had seen one girl shot in the cheek, and a girl who appeared to be about nine years old with a gunshot wound to the stomach. | Another eyewitness, Salina Jordan, 19, told the Denver Post she had seen one girl shot in the cheek, and a girl who appeared to be about nine years old with a gunshot wound to the stomach. |
A witness in the next-door theatre told 9News he initially thought live special effects had been laid on by the cinema after hearing loud bangs and seeing smoke. | A witness in the next-door theatre told 9News he initially thought live special effects had been laid on by the cinema after hearing loud bangs and seeing smoke. |
President Obama said in a statement that he and First Lady Michelle Obama were "shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting". | President Obama said in a statement that he and First Lady Michelle Obama were "shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting". |
He added: "As we do when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family." | He added: "As we do when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family." |
New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said his officers would patrol screenings of the film in that city to deter any copycat shootings. | |
Plans for Friday night's red carpet premiere of the film on the Champs-Elysees in Paris have been cancelled, while media interviews with its stars have been called off. | Plans for Friday night's red carpet premiere of the film on the Champs-Elysees in Paris have been cancelled, while media interviews with its stars have been called off. |
Are you in the Denver area? Send us your comments and experience using the form below. | Are you in the Denver area? Send us your comments and experience using the form below. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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