Batman star Bale visits shooting victims (+video)

Christian Bale and his wife Sibi Blazic visit a memorial in Aurora, Colorado, to pay their respects to the victims of Friday's mass shooting. Photo / AP

Batman star Christian Bale has visited survivors of the Colorado theatre shooting and stopped by a makeshift memorial to victims of the attack that killed 12 people and injured 58.

Carey Rottman, one of those injured in Friday's shooting at a theater showing The Dark Knight Rises, posted two photos of himself with Bale on his Facebook page.

Hospital staff also posted a Facebook photo of the actor with some staff members.

An online campaign had urged Bale to visit survivors of the shooting.

After visiting The Medical Centre of Aurora, Bale stopped by a makeshift memorial to the victims near the movie theatre. He walked among the 12 crosses erected for each of the slain victims, and many people there didn't realize who he was or chose to leave him alone.

A Warner Bros spokeswoman told The Denver Post that Bale was representing himself, not the movie studio.

Bale, who stars as Batman in The Dark Knight Rises, previously issued a written statement saying: "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."

President Barack Obama and members of the Denver Broncos also have made hospital visits to some of the survivors.

The movie's director Christopher Nolan recently released a statement expressing his "profound sorrow" at the tragic events.

He said in a statement: "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."

Nolan concluded: "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."

Warner Bros, which described itself as "deeply saddened," cancelled the premiere in Paris, France and upcoming promotional appearances by the cast have been postponed.

- AP