Fourteen dead in Dark Knight Rises cinema shooting

Fourteen people were feared dead today and 40 injured when gunmen opened fire at a midnight screening of new Batman film The Dark Knight Rises.

Children were believed to be among the victims of the attackers who reportedly threw tear gas before the rampage in America.

One of the killers was reportedly wearing a gas mask during the attack which began around 30 minutes into the screening.

Unconfirmed reports said the FBI and bomb squad had been called in and were searching for an explosive device on the car park of the cinema at the Aurora Mall, Denver, Colorado.

One suspect was said to be in custody, while another was still being hunted.

Police were said to be searching for a vehicle with tinted windows seen fleeing the scene.

Local journalist Brenda Stuart said film-goers initially believed the gunfire sounds were part of the film, which opened in the US and UK today.

She said: "Eyewitnesses then described people screaming, a lot of people got down and others ran screaming from the theatre.

"Some of the bullets went from one theatre into another theatre.

"We've got every police officer from the jurisdiction coming in."

"They think there could be another explosive device.

A spokesman for the Swedish Medical Centre, which was one of the hospitals receiving victims, said: "We've received three patients with gunshot wounds. We've put our external disaster plan into effect and we're prepared for up to 20 more patients."