The Interview: premiere cancelled as hackers threaten '9/11 attack'

The New York premiere of Christmas comedy The Interview has been cancelled after Guardians of Peace, the group held responsible for hacking Sony pictures last week, threatened a 9/11-style attack on cinemas.

The hacker group released a message on Tuesday warning cinemagoers to stay away from the film. "The world will be full of fear," the message reads. "Remember the 11th of September 2001. We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you'd better leave)."

The hackers also released more private correspondence and data that was stolen from Sony's computer networks, which it called a "Christmas gift".

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The attacks appear to have been timed to coincide with the release of the new Seth Rogen and James Franco movie in which two journalists attempt to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The group has already released salary information, social security numbers and personal emails including "embarrassing exchanges" about Hollywood stars including Angelina Jolie and Leonardo DiCaprio, the BBC reports.

North Korea has denied any involvement with the attack but describes it as a "righteous deed" that may possibly have been undertaken by "supporters and sympathisers".

The FBI confirmed to TechCrunch that it is aware of the threats and that it has opened an investigation into them.

The statement in full from the Guardians of Peace reads:

"Warning. We will clearly show it to you at the very time and places The Interview be shown, including the premiere, how bitter fate those who seek fun in terror should be doomed to. Soon all the world will see what an awful movie Sony Pictures Entertainment has made. The world will be full of fear. Remember the 11th of September 2001. We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you'd better leave.) Whatever comes in the coming days is called by the greed of Sony Pictures Entertainment. All the world will denounce the Sony."