(Cover) - EN Showbiz - The Dark Knight Rises gunman's booby trapped house is "sophisticated and disturbing," authorities reveal.

James Holmes opened fire as the new Batman movie was screened at a theatre in Aurora, Colorado, at midnight today.

The 24-year-old former neuroscience PhD candidate, who dropped out of his programme at the University of Colorado in June, killed at least 12 people and has injured as many as 50.

MTV News reports that police have evacuated five apartment blocks near James' home after he mentioned that his dwelling was laced with explosives.

FBI agents and local authorities are currently canvassing the apartment and are dismayed by what they've uncovered.

"It's pretty disturbing, it looks sophisticated in terms of how it is booby trapped," Aurora police chief Dan Oates told reporters in a press conference Friday.

Authorities are unsure of how long it will take to secure James' residence.

They have spotted "buckets" of ammunition and a number of complex bombs inside the home.

It is understood that James rose to his feet and brandished a gun when Batman first appeared on screen during the Christopher Nolan-directed release.

He is also thought to have thrown tear gas into the crowd and was wearing a gas mask and body armour with some outlets claiming he was dressed as Batman villain Bane.

The gunman was arrested in the parking lot of the cinema heavily armed.

Police confirm that James had an AR-15, a Remington 870 shotgun and a 40 caliber gloc handgun on him at the time of his arrest.

According to TMZ, James referred to himself as "The Joker" to police while he was taken into custody. (C) Cover Media