The Paris premiere of The Dark Knight Rises, the last part of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, has been cancelled hours after a gunman killed 12 people and injured more than 50 at a late-night screening of the film in the US city of Aurora.

The film's stars, Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway and Morgan Freeman, have reportedly scrapped press interviews. They had been scheduled to attend a daytime press conference at the Hotel Le Bristol in Paris where they have been staying in advance of the premiere in France.

Journalists who turned up at Le Bristol were asked to leave.

In the wake of the Colorado shooting, Warner Brothers, the distributors of the film, said it was "deeply saddened to learn about this shocking incident".

"We extend our sincere sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims at this tragic time."

Police named 24-year-old James Holmes as their prime suspect in the shooting after saying they found a bucket of ammunition during a search of his home.

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