Ten people have been shot dead at a Batman film premiere in Denver, Colorado, according to reports.
A masked gunman shot dead 10 people and wounded 30 to 40 others at a premiere showing of the new Batman movie in Denver.
Local radio reported people running screaming from the Century Aurora 16 Movie Theater in a mall in the suburb of Aurora.
The gun man reportedly opened fire after 30 minutes of the showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" and also set off a smoke or tear gas bomb.
Brenda Stuart, from 850 KOA Radio, told Sky News: "This started with a midnight showing of the new Dark Knight movie and the theatres were packed that were showing this movie.
"People inside tell us they thought it was part of the movie. They heard what they thought were firecrackers, loud bangs and all of a sudden they saw the bullets flying.
"Police officers are carting the injured to the hospital in their own cars, not waiting for the ambulances."
A makeshift hospital was set up at the mall to treat those wounded in the attack, and injured people were taken to several hospitals.
Fox News reported there were two gunmen involved and one was reportedly in custody.
Police closed off surrounding parking lots as sniffer dogs were brought in to search for a suspected explosive device.
