quote:

LONDON -- Did Batman attack his family?

Christian Bale was arrested and released Tuesday and then denied allegations made by his mother and sister that he had assaulted them Sunday night. The arrest reportedly was delayed until after Monday night's glittering European premiere of the actor's latest Batman movie, "The Dark Knight."

The British press reported that Bale was accused of lashing out at his mother and sister Sunday in his suite at the downtown Dorchester hotel. Bale was questioned by police for four hours Tuesday morning and released.

Bale's London-based law firm issued a statement denying that an assault took place.

"Christian Bale attended a London police station today on a voluntary basis," the statement read. "Bale, who denies the allegation, cooperated throughout, gave his account in full of the events in question, and has left the station without any charge being made against him by the police."

Scotland Yard said in a statement that "a 34-year-old man" was arrested on allegations of assault but was not charged and later said he was out on bail to return in September pending further inquiries into two allegations of assault.

Bale's mother, Jenny, and sister, Sharon, who both live outside of London, reportedly made the allegations in a police station in the southern England county of Hampshire.

The London Evening Standard reported that allegations were brought Monday by the Welsh-born actor's mother and sister, but police held off making an arrest so as not to spoil the fun Monday night, quoting a police source as saying: "It would have been wrong to wreck the premiere over a complaint which we do not yet know is founded in truth."

Monday night, Christian Bale and his costars had been feted by the public and press at a star-studded premiere of "The Dark Knight" in London's central Leicester Square, giving interviews and signing autographs. The event, heralded by the arrival of the Batmobile and faux flames leaping out of the top of the Leicester cinema, was greeted by a huge crowd of cheering, waving fans.