by Adeniyi Abdul

Writer and director of The Dark Knight Rises, Christopher Nolan has issued a statement on the shooting at a movie theatre in Colorado during a premiere of the film. The attack, which left 12 people dead and scores more injured, caused the Paris premiere of the movie as well as a press junket to be canceled.

Nolan, who was also behind Batman Begins and 2008’s The Dark Knight, described the shooting as “appalling” and “senseless” while offering his condolences to the families who had suffered losses. He said:

“Speaking on behalf of the cast and crew of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, 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 theatre 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.

Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families.”