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Batman director Christopher Nolan and lead actor Christian Bale have both spoken out to issue heartfelt feelings towards the victims of this week's Colorado shooting.

The pair issued seperate statements about the incident, in which 24 year old James Holmes opened fire on a late night screening of Batman: Dark Knight Rises, killing 12 people and injuring a further 58.

Bale, who plays Batman in the hit trilogy, stated: 'Words cannot express the horror that I feel. I cannot begin to truly understand the pain and grief of the victims and their loved ones, but my heart goes out to them.'
 
Meanwhile, director Nolan issued his words on behalf of the whole cast and crew, saying: '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 theater 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.'
 
It is believed that Holmes, when arrested by police, gave his name as 'The Joker'; a character from the second Batman film made famous by the late Heath Ledger.

Police are currently investigating the motive behind the crime at Holme's house - which he left booby trapped with explosives following the incident.